US11987514B1 - System for moving water from a selected depth to a vessel - Google Patents
System for moving water from a selected depth to a vessel Download PDFInfo
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- US11987514B1 US11987514B1 US17/684,182 US202217684182A US11987514B1 US 11987514 B1 US11987514 B1 US 11987514B1 US 202217684182 A US202217684182 A US 202217684182A US 11987514 B1 US11987514 B1 US 11987514B1
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- water
- pump
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- mixing chamber
- pole
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Images
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F7/00—Aeration of stretches of water
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
- B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
- B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
- B01F23/232—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using flow-mixing means for introducing the gases, e.g. baffles
- B01F23/2323—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using flow-mixing means for introducing the gases, e.g. baffles by circulating the flow in guiding constructions or conduits
- B01F23/23231—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using flow-mixing means for introducing the gases, e.g. baffles by circulating the flow in guiding constructions or conduits being at least partially immersed in the liquid, e.g. in a closed circuit
- B01F23/232311—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids using flow-mixing means for introducing the gases, e.g. baffles by circulating the flow in guiding constructions or conduits being at least partially immersed in the liquid, e.g. in a closed circuit the conduits being vertical draft pipes with a lower intake end and an upper exit end
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
- B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
- B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
- B01F23/237—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids characterised by the physical or chemical properties of gases or vapours introduced in the liquid media
- B01F23/2376—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids characterised by the physical or chemical properties of gases or vapours introduced in the liquid media characterised by the gas being introduced
- B01F23/23761—Aerating, i.e. introducing oxygen containing gas in liquids
- B01F23/237611—Air
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
- B01F23/70—Pre-treatment of the materials to be mixed
- B01F23/708—Filtering materials
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
- B01F35/20—Measuring; Control or regulation
- B01F35/21—Measuring
- B01F35/211—Measuring of the operational parameters
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
- B01F35/60—Safety arrangements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F2101/00—Mixing characterised by the nature of the mixed materials or by the application field
- B01F2101/305—Treatment of water, waste water or sewage
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
- C02F2103/007—Contaminated open waterways, rivers, lakes or ponds
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2201/00—Apparatus for treatment of water, waste water or sewage
- C02F2201/008—Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)
Abstract
A system that moves water to a vessel on a water body includes a retractable tube with water intake that descends to a selectable depth in the water body, a pump that moves water from the selectable depth through the retractable tube, an anchor assembly carrying the pump or retractable tube to the selectable depth and back again, and an indicator of the depth of the anchor assembly, pump, or water intake of the retractable tube in the water body. The anchor assembly includes a pole, a cantilever beam, a telescoping pole, a pole driving system, or a combination thereof. The system may include a gas delivery system configured to introduce a gas into the system's water flow and a mixing chamber or tube that mixes water and gas. Variations of the system provide a subset of these components, and can be combined with third-party components.
Description
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/155,189, filed on Mar. 1, 2021, entitled “Pump Output Assembly for a Live Well Pump,” which is referenced herein as “the provisional application,” and which is herein incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure generally relates to moving water from a depth, including systems, assemblies, kits, and methods for moving said water, and more particularly relates to the use of anchor assemblies and depth indicators, and associated systems, assemblies, kits, and methods of reaching, pumping, and oxygenating water moved from a selectable depth.
In broad terms, manufacturers of aquaculture aeration systems infuse water with a regulated flow of gas bubbles or spray within a container of water. The result is inefficient infusion that is dangerous to fish, with excess gas breaking the surface of the water and creating a danger for humans in the area.
In live well oxygenation systems on boats 40, the preservation of fish 20 outside their complex, natural environment has always been a challenge. When possible, all of the minimal needs of fish should be simulated so that they do not become sick or perish. In contrast, most of the current technology found in boat live wells and baitwells systems includes inexpensive pumps, timers, aerators, bubblers, and air infusers. The oxygen-carrying capacity of these wells and their ability to support fish are insufficient. With high summer surface water temperatures, such systems cannot maintain oxygen in solution to allow the fish to “catch their breath” after a strong fight or to accommodate the smallest of catches.
Tournament fishermen have tried to increase live release rates of fish 20; however, causes of tournament mortality include the current technology of ambient air and oxygen bubblers 12. For example, a typical system 1 utilizes a medical oxygen tank 5 and a medical pediatric low volume regulator 6 that meters bubbled oxygen 5′ continuously in a volume per minute (LPM) manner. Continuous flow of pure oxygen bubbles 13 emitted from the bubbler 12 will transfer some oxygen 5′ into solution. Ideally, this gas transfer should happen before the gas bubbles 13 reach the surface 9, releasing pure gas 5′ above the water 10 inside the live well's air space and building up hazardous volumes within a confined area. The short time the gas bubble 13 travels to the surface 9 is the available oxygen gas absorption time. This is highly inefficient use of oxygen 5′, with absorption efficiency in single digits and significant liters per minute of oxygen 5′ at the surface 9.
The perceived solution to this problem is to acquire a ceramic bubbler 12 that produces very fine bubbles 13 that stay trapped in solution longer and allow for higher oxygen transfer rates. These ceramic bubblers 12 can produce bubbles 13 so fine as to make any live well tank 2 appear cloudy, and the oxygenated live well 2 becomes a killer of fish as described in FIGS. 1-6 . Fine bubbles 13 prevent the water-soluble gas transfer of oxygen into, and carbon dioxide away from, the fish.
The process of pulling oxygen from water is a delicate process for fish 20 because water usually contains only about 2% oxygen, compared to breathable air 15 which is about 21% oxygen. In most oxygen bubbler systems 1, there is no measurement of the actual dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in the container 2. The oxygen bubbler's 12 continuous flow rates (LPM) are at best a guess without a DO test meter. There is no established protocol to accurately compensate for the variety of environmental factors when calculating dissolved oxygen levels or to calculate live well container loading versus oxygen demand. These systems have no mechanism to observe dissolved oxygen levels when operational.
Above-well spray bars/heads may forcefully spray into the well's water surface 9 to aerate well water 10 with ambient air 15. One disadvantage is that a small amount of CO2 and a large amount of nitrogen is absorbed into the well water 10, with marginal transfer of oxygen. Heat is also transferred, reducing the well's ability to retain oxygen. The jet spray and noise of the spray bars stress the fish 20. This system 1 would need to be duplicated for every live well 10 on the boat 40. Spray bars with O2 bubbler systems 1 do not fare much better. The big disadvantage is the danger of the constant flow of oxygen that could continue to supply any fire until the valve on the supply bottle 5 could be de-activated. The maximum limit for storage of any oxygen tank 5 is 120° F., which is why boat companies do not install these systems 1 as a factory option.
There is need in the art for a better alternative that allows fresh water to be brought from depth in a convenient and efficient manner.
This specification describes not only systems that address the problems above but also numerous other improvements that provide additional advantages. As this specification is intended to be an omnibus application that provides support for several related inventions, it will be understood that the claims of this application are not limited to solving any particular problem or providing any particular advantage other than solutions or advantages specifically recited by the claims.
This application is the latest specification describing a progression of aquaculture-aeration system designs and improvements beginning with an improved oxygenated live well, described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/029,097, filed Jul. 6, 2018, entitled “H2O-Oxygenation Method and Oxygenated Live Well,” and U.S. provisional patent Application No. 62/529,815, filed Jul. 7, 2017, entitled “Novel H2O-Oxygenated Method and Portable Oxygenated Live Well.” Both of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. The original claims of this application are directed to a system operable by a pump to move water from a selectable depth to a vessel (e.g., a container or transport) located on a body of water. The invention can be characterized in multiple ways.
In a first embodiment, the system comprises a retractable tube that has a water intake, an anchor assembly comprising a pole, cantilever beam, telescoping pole, pole driving system, or combination thereof, a strainer or filter on the water intake of the retractable tube, and a depth indicator. This system can be sold with and include a pump. Alternatively, the system may be sold without a pump, as some customers may already have or prefer to use a third-party pump.
In a second embodiment, the system comprises the retractable tube, the anchor assembly, and the depth indicator described above, and further comprises a pump that moves water from the selectable depth through the retractable tube.
In a third embodiment, the system comprises a generally defined anchor assembly (as in the second embodiment and in contrast to the more specifically defined anchor assembly of the first embodiment) and a water delivery system that sources water from the body of water (this is more general than a pump). The system further includes a mixing chamber or mixing tube structured to receive water from the water delivery system and a mixing medium, bubble trap, impingement medium, impingement plate, diverter plate, diverter device, distributor, or some combination thereof located within the mixing chamber or mixing tube. The anchor assembly is structured to carry parts of the system to depth and return those parts to the surface.
The system may include a number of features or attributes that define more specific implementations of the foregoing embodiments. In implementations that include a pump for moving water from the selectable depth through the retractable tube, the pump may be a blow pump, a suck pump, a gas injector, or a combination thereof. If the pump is electric, a power connector or wiring may descend into the body of water on or within the retractable tube or anchor assembly.
In implementations where the anchor assembly is configured to carry the pump to the selectable depth, the pump may be placed proximate the bed of the body of water. In this manner, an operator may select a depth for the water intake that is approximately the depth of the water body at the vessel's location.
In any of the embodiments described above, the depth indicator may comprise one or more electronic sensors including a water sensor, oxygen sensor, depth or pressure sensor, salinity sensor, temperature sensor, pH sensor, image sensor, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the depth indicator may comprise visible markings on the anchor assembly, such as the pole or tube. Some implementations may also comprise shut-off mechanism configured to stop water intake when the bed of the body of water, debris, or another obstruction stops the shut-off mechanism from descending any further. Also, some implementations may include a gas delivery system configured to introduce a gas into the water flow of the system. The gas may be pressurized by water in the vessel or the body of water to dissolve the gas.
Various implementations may also comprise a mixing chamber or mixing tube structured to mix water and gas. They gas may be introduced through a gas delivery system. The mixing chamber may be structured to receive and hold gas from the gas delivery system and to distribute the water through the gas to dissolve the gas. Water saturated with gas may flow from the mixing chamber to the vessel.
Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages of the disclosed product and methods for forming an oxygenated live well will be apparent or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. All such additional systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages are intended to be included within the description and to be protected by the accompanying claims.
The present disclosure may be better understood with reference to the following figures. Corresponding reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the figures, and components in the figures are not necessarily to scale.
It will be appreciated that the drawings are provided for illustrative purposes and that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. For clarity and to emphasize certain features, not all of the drawings depict all of the features that might be included with the depicted embodiment. The invention also encompasses embodiments that combine features illustrated in multiple different drawings; embodiments that omit, modify, or replace some of the features depicted; and embodiments that include features not illustrated in the drawings. Therefore, there is no restrictive one-to-one correspondence between any given embodiment of the invention and any of the drawings.
Any reference to “invention” within this document is a reference to an embodiment of a family of inventions, with no single embodiment including features that are necessarily included in all embodiments, unless otherwise stated. Furthermore, although there may be references to “advantages” provided by some embodiments, other embodiments may not include those same advantages, or may include different advantages. Any advantages described herein are not to be construed as limiting to any of the claims.
Specific quantities (spatial dimensions, temperatures, pressures, times, force, resistance, current, voltage, concentrations, wavelengths, frequencies, heat transfer coefficients, dimensionless parameters, etc.) may be used explicitly or implicitly herein, such specific quantities are presented as examples only and are approximate values unless otherwise indicated. Discussions pertaining to specific compositions of matter, if present, are presented as examples only and do not limit the applicability of other compositions of matter, especially other compositions of matter with similar properties, unless otherwise indicated.
In describing preferred and alternate embodiments of the technology described herein, as illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The technology described herein, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions.
Described below are embodiments of devices, systems, kits, and methods for infusing gas in water without constantly releasing bubbles of gas into the water. Particular attention is given to oxygenating water for keeping fish healthy, especially on a temporary basis during transport of the fish. Tempering/cooling of the water is also discussed as a critical parallel component of oxygenation, as is pH/salinity and maintenance of the system.
Beginning with FIG. 7 , in use the container 102 and mixing chamber 120 (via lower water inlet/outlet 134) are filled 302 with water 110 that rises to a target fill line or water level 111 from a lower water level 111′. As a result, the mixing chamber's internal water level 141 rises, and the ambient air 15 in the mixing chamber 120 compresses.
In FIG. 8 , the ambient air 15 is vented 304 out of the gas inlet/outlet fitting 131 (using vent/purge solenoid 218, shown later) as the water 110 from the container 102 enters the mixing chamber 120, raises the mixing chamber's internal water level 141, and pushes the ambient air 15 out. The container's water level will drop slightly to a lower water level 111′ relative to the fixed volume of the mixing chamber 120, but the container 102 may be “topped off” using a water pump 144, 146 (not shown here).
In FIG. 9 , gas 210 is introduced into the mixing chamber 306 via the gas inlet/outlet fitting 131 (using “gas in” solenoid 217, shown later). The mixing chamber's internal water level 141 is pushed down with the pressure of the gas injection, and water 110 evacuates the mixing chamber 120 through the lower water inlet/outlet fitting 134, thus increasing the container water level 111 to its original level. The gas flow stops 308 when, as shown in FIG. 10 , the injected gas 210 causes a slight overflow of gas bubbles 13 that are comprised of that injected gas 210. For example, the gas 210 may be oxygen, and the container 102 may be a live well. A container may also be called a vessel 101. In certain configurations, such bubbles 13 are a visual indicator that the mixing chamber 120 is “full” and, importantly, is a separate occurrence from the next and more immediate step that results in the gas 210 being dissolved in the water 110. In an automated or electronically controlled and calibrated process, any “burped” gas 210 may be minimized without need for visual confirmation of fill.
In FIG. 11 , the mixing chamber is flooded with water 310, typically via a water pump 144, 146 and the top water inlet/outlet fitting 134 with the aid of gravity. As the water 110 is misted, sprayed or otherwise distributed through the gas 210 in the mixing chamber 120, the mixing chamber's internal water level 141 will rise, compressing the gas 210, and move toward an equilibrium level 142 (see FIGS. 13-16 ). The water volume in the container 102 also exerts pressure on the gas 210 in the mixing chamber 120. The pressure, water-to-air impact, and churning work together to dissolve the gas 210 while keeping most or all of the undissolved gas 210 in the mixing chamber. The gas-saturated water 140 of the mixing chamber 120 is forced out of the lower water inlet/outlet 134. In this specification, water that is in the container 102 and introduced into the mixing chamber 120 is referred to as water 110, and water that contains dissolved gas 210 in the mixing chamber 120 and is released into the container 102 is referred to as gas-saturated water 140, though it is understood that the state of the water 110, 140 is in flux.
In FIG. 12 , the pump 144, 146 is turned off and the flow of water is stopped 312. The mixing chamber 120 is at rest with a full charge of gas-saturated water 140, with some unmixed gas 210 residing above the mixing chamber's internal water level 141. Upon a next use of the pump 144, 146 as indicated by the dashed lines, even if brief, more gas-saturated water 140 will be released into the container 102, and pressure on the remaining gas 210 will be increased.
In FIG. 13 , the unmixed gas 210 and any other gas is vented 314 as a safety measure via the upper gas inlet/outlet fitting 131. As the level of gas 210 decreases, water 110 enters the lower water inlet/outlet fitting 134 and re-floods the mixing chamber 120 so its internal water level 141 increases. FIG. 17 shows a variant on FIG. 13 that is a “power purge” or powered venting in which the pump 144, 146 additionally floods the mixing chamber 120 for faster removal of gas 210.
Finally, in FIG. 14 the user may reduce the container water volume 316 (or drain the mixing chamber 318). Allowing ambient air 15 to enter the mixing chamber 120 through the gas inlet/outlet fitting 131 and dropping the volume of water 110 in the container 102 creates a vacuum that pulls the ambient air 15 inside the mixing chamber 120 to mix with the undissolved gas 210 that becomes increasingly diluted. A phase or region of mixed gas 213 is created. The greater the volume of ambient air 15, the safer the mixing chamber 120. Safe, ambient air 15 passes out of the lower water inlet/outlet fitting 134 along with water 140.
Alternatively, the user can draw the water down to a “minimum” or lower water level 111′, as shown, without venting. This novel function of the present invention allows for conservation of some unmixed gas 210 and some gas-infused water 140 in the mixing chamber 120, basically in vacuum storage. The remaining water 140 acts as an air lock. Thus, gas 210 is retained for next use, and oxygenated water 140 is trapped for immediate infusion upon command.
Examples of multi-strand matrices 150 are shown in FIGS. 21-26 , although the present invention is not limited to these examples. A matrix 150 is a collection of strands 151 joined at nodes 152, each node 152 comprising at least two strands 151. The stands 151 may have granules or particles 154 on them, as well as resin 155 that may bind the strands 151 and/or create irregularly shaped strands 151. Numerous voids 157 create a multi-strand matrix 150 that in total is highly porous (the strands 151 themselves are not necessarily porous). One or more configurations of multi-strand matrix 150 may be employed in one mixing chamber 120 and may be optimized and arranged for desired functionality and cost. A preferred matrix 150 holds its form and does not deteriorate in a gas (oxygen) and water-filled environment. Various weaves and densities may be tuned and/or used in combination for specific performance to hold water and gas while also having flow-thru capability.
Among the examples of highly porous multi-strand matrix 150 found to have desirable properties for the present invention are two products manufactured by 3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.). One is the Buf-Puf™ web comprising 6 denier fibers bonded at their mutual contact points with a hardened prebond resin. Another example is the heavy duty Scotch-Brite™ Scouring Pad non-woven web comprising 15 denier fibers and including inorganic abrasive particles bonded to the fibers of the nonwoven web with a hardened resin. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,958,593 to Hoover et al, which is herein incorporated by reference. These pads are described as non-woven, three-dimensional, fibrous, lofty webs of extremely open structure having an extremely high void volume (i.e., low density) and formed of many interlaced randomly extending, durable, resilient fibers which have a diameter of from about 25 microns to about 250 microns. A waterproof relatively hard rigid binder forms a three dimensionally integrated structure throughout said web that comprises a tri-dimensionally extending network of intercommunicated voids constituting at least about 75% of the volume of said article. The preferred webs are nonwoven webs formed of nylon or polyester thermoplastic organic filaments having a size on the order of 3 to 500 denier and a web thickness in the range of 2 to 50 mm. The filaments may have a cross-section which is round, square, triangular, rectangular or a blend of various cross-sections. 3M's intent was to develop abrasive scouring pads for cleaning surfaces, and they did not envision use of their pads for dissolving gas in water 300. The present invention is not limited to a 3M pad material or to their description of the multi-strand matrix 150 unless specifically stated.
In summary, per the flow chart of FIG. 27 , the general method of dissolving gas 300 comprises: the user fills the container (and mixing chamber) with water 302, adds aquatic life (and closes the container lid) 303, vents or purges the mixing chamber of ambient air or other gas 304, introduces a discrete amount of gas into the mixing chamber 306 and stops the flow of gas 308, turns the water pump on to flood the mixing chamber with water 310 (thus dissolving the gas and releasing gas-infused water 311 that is substantially free of bubbles), stops the flow of water 312 (holding gas-infused water and gas for future use 320), and repeats steps 306-312 as necessary. The user may cool the water 340 and/or recirculate the water 344. Additionally, the user may vent gas(es) 314, reduce container water volume 316, drain the mixing chamber 318, and/or clean the container and system 382. The user may monitor and control the system and surroundings 380 manually or via a controller 280. One of skill in the art will understand that certain steps in the method 300 may be omitted, grouped differently, or performed in different order if the result is similar performance. For example, one may dissolve gas 300 without draining the mixing chamber 318, as the method of dissolving gas 300 may comprise a subset of the listed steps.
The general system for dissolving gas 100, per the flow chart of FIG. 28 , comprises: An electronic controller 280 with communication and display 290 capabilities, sensors, water pumps, a gas delivery system 200, cooling systems, a mixing chamber 120, and a container 102. Manual control is optional. The controller 280 interacts with at least a temperature sensor 240, salinity sensor 241, dissolved gas sensor 242, and other sensors 147 and 288. The controller 280 activates thermocline water pump with intake 146/11 to fill the container with water 110 and water fill pump 144 to send water 110 (140) into the mixing chamber 120, which may have a distributor 137 and mixing medium 170. Gas-saturated water 140 passes from mixing chamber 120 to container 102, which may have lid 103, water 110 (140), bung plug assembly 265, ambient air 15, and aquatic life (fish) 20. The electronic controller 280 may also activate a water cooling pump 244 to a variety of cooling mechanisms including a cooling pack 248 containing ice, dry ice, liquid nitrogen, or some other ice substitute, a heat exchanger 250, and a thermoelectric cooler 252. The controller 280 may also activate a gas delivery system 200 that may include gas 210, a disposable gas can 220, solenoids 217 and 218, valves 202, 215, and 227. After reading this specification, one of skill in the art will realize the number of parts and configurations envisioned for this system 100 and that this brief description is not limiting.
One advantage to this design is simplicity. Only the flow of water 110 is adjusted, versus the flow of gas 210, because the gas volume is fixed in the mixing chamber 120. A valve or controller 280 prevents water 110 and gas 210 from flowing simultaneously unless so desired, and pumps 144, 146 are specific to the GPH required for the best gas absorption rate in a given size of mixing chamber 120. In essence, these may be fixed volume pumps. A fixed flow orifice may be utilized. The result is simpler, more effective, and more practical than the prior art. Pumps 144, 146 may be configured based upon pulse-width modulation, variable voltage amplitude, variable or fixed current, phase control, programmable combinations of these configurations.
The controller 280 of the present invention may utilize feedback from a variety of sensor probes 147 including, but not limited to, depth, water temperature 34, oxygen, salinity, and pH. An image sensor, which may be a video sensor or camera, is another type of sensor probe 147 utilized to indicate depth 32. Spool or utility reel 148 unwinds and rewinds wire 283 attached to the sensor probe(s) 147, and the wire 283 may carry depth markers 32 and a thermocline water intake 143. Depth markers 32 and sensor probes 147 together or separately are depth indicators. Live well 102 temperature 34 has a significant effect on dissolved oxygen levels available to fish 20 and, thus, fish-holding capacity of a container 102. Using the thermocline water intake 143 a fish 20 caught at target depths 36 could be put in the live well 102 at the same temperature 34 from which the fish 20 was caught (and will eventually be returned), greatly reducing stress.
Turning now to FIGS. 31-60 , we expound upon this simple explanation and look at an intermediate-sized embodiment of the system 100. FIGS. 31-34 show a cut-away view of a vessel 101 or container 102 that is a cooler or ice chest having walls 105 and a lid 103 with a seal 104 that is typically fluid-tight. The container 102 may have hard or soft walls depending on intended use. Drain hole 109 is sealed with a removable bung plug assembly 265 configured to allow wires 283 and or tubing 136 to pass from inside the container 102 to outside. Controller 280, which may be an electronic pendant, is connected to the rest of the system 100 and to a power source 282 by electric connectors 281. The controller 280 may reside outside the container 102 or within (see FIGS. 33-34 ). The power source 282 may be a battery or a variety of other adaptable sources.
Within the ice chest or container 102 is mixing chamber 120 that has a rectangular housing 122 with ports 132 at the lower portion 123 of the housing front 124. The mixing chamber 120 is not limited to a rectangular or tubular shape, nor to six ports 132, but may have a different configuration of shapes and ports 132 that provide similar functionality. Also seen on the housing front 124 is a gas volume gauge 216 and a vent fitting 202. The housing 122 may be made of plastic, carbon, or a variety of materials or combinations of materials that are durable in water 110 that fills the container 102. Water level 111 illustrates the target fill line, and lower water level 111′ illustrates a minimum water line above the ports 132 on the lower portion of the mixing chamber housing 122. In these examples, the first port 132 is dedicated to “H2O in to mixing chamber,” the second port 132 to “water out to cooling,” the third to “gas fill,” the fourth to “gas-infused water out,” the fifth to “water in for cooling,” and the sixth to wiring 283 for power 282 and controller 280. Ports 132 are not limited to the positions or order shown, and at times some ports 132 are not used.
The ice holder 246 may be held to the container's lid 103 by Velcro 127, although placement is not limited to the lid 103 and attachment is not limited to Velcro or other releasable attachment. Distributors 137 are not limited to a bar or the configurations shown. The water inlet/outlet fitting 134 may comprise a 90° barbed slip fitting for a 5/16″ or 8 mm ID hose 136. One of skill in the art will understand that these and other dimensions given herein may be altered as long as the same functionality is rendered. Also shown in FIG. 35 , the mixing chamber 120 comprises vent port 201 with vent fitting 202, nuts 133 for securing bulkhead fittings (ports) 132 to the housing front 124, potted electrical junction box 285, housing back 125, and housing support 126 that provides structural support to the assembled housing 122. Structural support 126 is not limited to the C-beam shown.
A cooling variant that utilizes a coil or heat exchanger 250 is illustrated in FIGS. 32-33 and 38 . In this configuration, water 110 is sent out the second port 132 through tubing 136 to the heat exchanger 250 that is located adjacent to cooling pack 248 that cools the water 110 in the heat exchanger 250. In FIG. 33 , the cooled water 110 returns via tubing 136 directly to the first port 132. In FIG. 32 , a multi-port 180 is installed at the first port 132, and the cooled water 110 flows to the multi-port 180. (The multi-port will be described in FIGS. 46-50 . The multi-port 180 may also be used to feed gas 210 into the first port 132.) Controller 280 determines whether the cooled water 110 at the multi-port 180 will be directed into the first port 132 or into the container 102 bypassing the first port 132. Bypass occurs when the container 102 already has enough gas-saturated water 140 and only needs cooling.
Another cooling variant that utilizes a Peltier or thermoelectric cooler 252 is illustrated in FIG. 34 . The thermoelectric cooler 252 utilizes a special bung plug assembly 265 to allow its components to reside outside of the container 102 and to communicate via wiring 283, electrical connectors 281 for power source 282 (not shown) and controller 280, and tubing 136. In use, water 110 flows from the second port 132 out the bung plug assembly 265, through a closed cool loop, and back through the bung plug assembly 265 with thermocouple 253 to multi-port 180 at the first port 132. Various parts include a cold boost pump 259, hot/cold thermoelectric chips 254 connected with a digital temperature controller 256, a forced air radiator fan 257, and a hot side radiator pump 258. The hot side of the thermoelectric chip 254 has a heat sink, and the cold side has a cool water chamber. Various sensors (not shown) activate and protect the circuitry and components. Temperature controller 256 is operator-programmed based on specie requirements or the depth temperatures 34 of the waters 10 being fished, as well as power requirements, cooling capacity, and cooling time limits. The system 100 cycles on and off as needed to control the target temperature range. Conversion to Peltier cooling may be done without any need for the operator to touch or reprogram the controller 280 and without expensive, heavy, noisy, high horsepower refrigeration equipment. The thermoelectric cooler 252 has an “unlimited” cooling capacity when compared to a cooling pack 248 and is useful for long-term cooling, such as overnight, provided external power is available. One of skill in the art will understand that thermoelectric cooling is known and that the present invention is not limited by this abbreviated discussion of the technology.
An important aspect of intermediate and smaller sized configurations of the present system for dissolving gas in water 100 is that low-pressure, low-volume disposable gas cans 220, such as an aluminum canister, may be employed in place of high-pressure oxygen tanks 5 and may be sized to hold a volume of gas 210 configured for a specific container 102 size, such that one “dose” will service the container 102. FIGS. 41-43 present options for introducing said gas 210 below the water line 111 for greater safety. An additional safety benefit is that such a gas source 211 may be easily removed from the area and stored away from heat and people. In FIG. 41 , a butane valve or check valve 227 for charging the mixing chamber 120 with gas 210 is a gas fill valve fitting 215 that comprises a valve 228, valve adapter 229 for bulkhead fitting port 132 that is paired with a bulkhead fitting nut 133. The assembled check valve 227 is installed as an option in FIG. 42 on a central portion of a mixing chamber 120 that is configured for a small container 102. This configuration of mixing chamber 120 may have a size of about 8″×8″×2″. As with previously discussed mixing chambers 120, the housing front 124 comprises an air volume gauge 216, vent fitting 202, and cooling tubes 136 that run to a heat exchanger 250. However, there are only four ports 132. The fourth port 132 comprises an electrical connector 281 and an LED 287 light. The second port 132 sends water 140 to the heat exchanger 250 and back to a T-port or T-shaped bypass fitting 195 at the first port 132. When “on,” the bypass fitting 195 allows cool water to flow to the mixing chamber 120 to cool water pump 244. When “off,” the bypass fitting 195 lets the cool water 140 flow to the live well or container 102. The disposable gas can 220 may be put into the container 102 by hand 41 such that its nozzle 224 may be inserted into the third port 132 (which may be a standard water out port 132 or gas fill port 132 with or without gas fill valve 215) or inserted into check valve 227.
Returning to FIGS. 44-45 , we illustrate the handheld pendant controller 280 in greater detail. Two versions of the controller 280 differ in that the one for small containers 102 such as ice chests and buckets makes use of the bottommost button or light switch 298 to turn an LED 287 light on the mixing chamber 120 on and off. For boat 40 mounted systems that may not use the multi-parameter settings described below, the bottom “fill gas” switch 298 is a momentary switch that activates the mixing chamber vent/purge fitting 202 or gas fill valve fitting 215 (via “gas in” solenoid 217). Controller 280 comes with electrical connectors for wiring and power 281, as well as indicator LEDs 287 to indicate what programs the controller 280 is set to run.
On the left side of the controller 280 are two raised switches 291 and 292 that are single-pole, double-throw. On the right side of the controller are four momentary-on programming switches 293, 294, 295, 296. There are two such programming switches (P1/P2), each having a related LED 287, associated with each of the two raised switches 291, 292.
Cooling pump switch 292 “On” provides manual control of the water cooling pump 244 for cooling the water in the container (manual cooling control mode). .
Cooling pump switch 292 “Auto” gives water cooling pump 244 control to electronic timers (automatic operation mode). The user pushes (P1) “program cool on” switch 295 to program the cool “on” timer. The user pushes (P2) “program cool off” switch 296 to program the cool “off” timer. In “Auto” mode, the controller runs the programmed P1/P2 timer cycles unless those cycles are changed.
Momentary actuation of a P1 switch will adjust the “On” time by adding a pre-selected time factor for each activation of the switch. For example, if the time factor is one minute, each activation of the P1 button will add one minute of total run time. Thus, five depressions of the P1 switch equals 5 minutes run time. The P2 switch is programmed similarly, but for “Off” time after the “On” time has expired. Operation is the same for each switch group.
Program mode is entered by holding the P1/P2 switches down simultaneously while switching to the “Auto” mode of operation. Releasing P1/P2 simultaneously allows programming to begin. P1 switch is depressed the desired number of times to add up to the total number of timing units required (seconds/minutes/hours). P2 switch is depressed the desired number of times to add up to the total number of timing units required (seconds/minutes/hours). Switch the mode switch to “Off” and the timer is programmed. Switching the mode switch to “Auto” will automatically start the pumps and programmed timing events on a recurring cycle until stopped. Once programmed the unit will automatically run pump timing events at each use in the automatic mode. Removal of power will not change the programs. Time factors are pre-programmed from the factory.
The purge vent/fill switch normally is not timed, but may be. The controller 280 is not limited to the above configuration and programming. Advanced configurations may retain and use previous sounding data by hardwire or wirelessly and may include barometric pressure, barometric trend tracking, humidity, outside temperature, heat index calculations, wind and moon phase data, etc.
Alternatively, the multi-port 180 of FIG. 50 comprises at least one cap plug 185, a suction cup 186, a port 132 having a nipple or port connector 188 configured to receive a female QD valve 190, a port 132 with QD valve 190 already in place, and a hose barb or port connector 188 configured to receive tubing 136 with a filter 194. Of course, male and female fittings may be reversed. As shown in FIGS. 95 and 97 , the multi-port 180 may comprise a camera 263, white light 287, infrared light 286 and a thermistor or temperature sensor 240, as well as other sensors to enable viewing of fish 20 and monitoring of system function. The multi-port 180 is not limited to the configurations shown, as these are only examples.
The bung plug assembly 265 of FIGS. 54-60 is novel based on its own merits. FIG. 54 illustrates a bung plug assembly 265 utilized when a hole is drilled into an existing ice chest or container 102. The outer face 267 of bung plug 266 comprises wingnut flanges 268 for tightening, ducts 269, stem 270 (essentially a bung within a bung) having stem aperture 271 and outer cap 272. The stem 270 and outer cap 272 may have cooperating threads. Stem 270 or inner face 273 may comprise one or more sensors 240, 242 such as temperature, oxygen, and ammonia sensors. Stem 270 or inner face 273 may comprise a white light 287, infrared light 286, and camera 263; preferably one that can see IR light frequencies to allow a user to observe the contents and function of the live well 102 without opening the lid 103 and stressing the fish 20 or blinding the angler. (See FIGS. 82 and 96 .) Ducts 269 have duct apertures 269′ that allow wiring and/or fluids to pass through the bung plug 266, and the ducts 269 are often attached to tubing 136 or gas lines 214.
Inside the container 102, bung plug 266 has a threaded inner face comprising ducts 269 aligned with the ducts 269 on the outer face 267, and an inner plug 274 that may be threaded and is configured to cooperate with the stem 270. The bung plug 266 is secured to the ice chest or container 102 using round nut 275, one or more gaskets 276, and a flanged nut 278 having flange 279. One of skill in the art will understand that the bung plug assembly 265 is not limited to the configuration described, particularly the nuts, gaskets, threads, and other commonly understood elements.
In FIG. 57 , the outer cap 272 on the stem 270 has a wiring aperture 284. Alternatively in FIG. 58 , the stem 270 has an outer plug 262 comprising a wiring aperture 284. In that same figure, tubing 136 above the outer cap 272 has a grommet seal 264 (plug) with wiring aperture 284. FIG. 59 is a reverse view of FIG. 58 , and FIG. 60 is the side view. The watertight bung plug assembly 265 may interface with, among other things, tubing 136 for water fill, overflow, drain, oxygenated water in, de-oxygenated water out, and cooling in and out; electrical wires 283; and gas lines 214. Externally mounted components may be adapted to a bag or other enclosure for safe keeping on the outside of the ice chest or container 102. A bung plug assembly 265 of any size may accommodate many of the features described, and one ice chest 102 may have bung assemblies 265 of different sizes. Features may be wired 283 and/or wireless including, but not limited to, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Radio Frequency. Output from a camera 263 and sensors (for example, 240, 242) may be displayed on a smart phone, computer, fish finder, navigation display, or other display 290. Beyond ice chests and buckets 102, bung plug assemblies 265 may be used in aquaculture transports and tanks, boat main live wells, bait wells, game tanks, and other transports and applications.
Maintaining a very high density of fish 20 in a small volume of water 110 places great demands on live well control systems. A bucket 102 may hold one large fish nose down or many smaller fish as a baitwell. The operational requirements based on any given species can vary widely. The present system for dissolving gas in water 100 is able to handle any scenario. Lively bait is the best bait, and the present invention provides the solution for transporting active bait.
The bucket 102 has an insulated bucket blanket 230 of durable foam that resists water and mold and may include a bottom insulator or reflector 232 to provide shielding from ground heat radiating into the interior water 110, 140. The insulated bucket blanket 230 may comprise a window or opening 231 that fits around the mounted mixing chamber 120. Insulation moderates temperature and extends the cooling pack 248's cooling time. A canvas or other type of bucket cover 234 may have a variety of small pouches 235 to hold a controller 280, battery or power source 282, or other items and a larger mixing chamber pouch 237 that fits over the mixing chamber 120 and has a vent access 238 opening to allow a user to easily vent the mixing chamber 120. The insulating blanket 230 and bucket cover 234 may be one or separate components. The bucket 102 may have a permanent or removable non-skid, tip-resistant base or bottom grip 179 that may be omitted for use in a kayak that provides a recess for carrying a crate or bucket 102. The insulating blanket 230 and bucket cover 234 are not limited to the materials described, but may comprise materials that deliver the same performance.
The bucket 102 has a lid 103 that may double as a removable swivel seat. The lid 103 may be a flip top or have a seal 104 (Gamma Seal®, for example) that screws on water-tight, preventing splashing and loss of water 110, 140. Prior art bucket lids 3 have ventilation slots to allow ambient air 15 to reach the water's surface 9 to transfer oxygen, thus preventing a sealed lid 3. One improvement of the present invention is that seal 104 allows a traditionally wet, messy, smelly transport of bait to be performed with absolute security and without damage from saltwater. Additionally, the seal 104 traps cooling energy and increases the useful life of the cooling pack 248. In any other bait bucket, this seal 104 would be deadly to bait fish 20 because the only additional oxygen available would be ambient air 15, and the bait would suffocate in short order. Under the lid 103 and/or seal 104 a block of a cooling pack 248 may be suspended via Velcro or other releasable attachment 127. Any time Velcro is used, it comprises both hook and loop strips. A spray bar or other distributor 137 is configured to direct water 110, 140 from the mixing chamber 120 to the cooling pack 248. When a seat is used to cover the bucket 102, the interior seal 104 portion may be removed for easier bucket 102 access, and the cooling pack 248 may be removed from under the lid 103 and transferred to under the swivel seat using the same removable attachment 127. The seat/second lid 103 then resides over an indexed flange mount (not shown) to provide proper seat/lid 103 location for the spray bar and proximity sensor or “lid open” sensor 288 alignment.
The mixing chamber 120 for a bucket container 102 is detailed in FIGS. 63-64 . Housing 122 comprises a housing front 124 with vent port 201 and vent fitting 202 and a housing back 125 that is shaped to fit the curvature of the container 102. A port 132 secured by a nut 133 on the housing front 124 is configured for wire 283 that runs outside the mixing chamber 120 to the controller 280 and power source 282 for powered configurations. On the housing back 125, ports 132 and nuts 133 secure the mixing chamber 120 to the bucket 102. The fourth port 132 is for gas 210 charging. In this small container 102, a single charge might last an entire weekend for fishing.
The foregoing is an obvious improvement over prior art buckets 2 having a battery powered diaphragm pump 5 that creates heat as it pumps ambient air 15 into the bucket bottom via a hose 7 and air bubbler stone 12.
In practice, the lid 103 is removed and bait shop live well or native water 110 is added to the bucket 102. A cooling pack 248 containing ice, artificial ice, dry ice, liquid nitrogen or some other cooling medium, preferably one with a high specific and/or latent heat, is installed under the lid 103. (In another configuration, the cooling pack 248 may be installed at the bucket's exterior wall 105 adjacent to a heat exchanger 250 that cools circulating water 110, 140.) The net 172 is installed with the weighted or releasably attachable bottom ring 176 placed at the bottom of the bucket 102 and the top ring 173 set in its groove or shelf 178. The optional cooling spray bar distributor 137 is installed. The controller 280 is programmed with temperatures and oxygenation levels and activated. Bubble-less water 140 issues. Bait fish 20 are placed in the container 102. The lid 103 with cooling pack 248 is sealed to be water- and air-tight. Upon arrival at the fishing destination the bucket 102 is placed in a shaded spot, if possible, and the lid 103 is removed so the user may transfer the cooling pack 248 to a swivel seat lid 103 if desired. The bucket 102 is always covered, except when removing bait or partially replacing water 110 to eliminate toxic ammonia buildup. Removal of the lid 103 activates the night light LED 287 at the bottom of the container 102 for easy viewing. Various LED 287 placements are viable for convenient, line-illuminating night light, including between the user's legs while seated, whether automatically or manually activated. Similar to the ice chest version, the bucket 102 can be manually drained or power drained. A benefit of power draining is that the mixing chamber 120 will remain charged with gas 210. Alternatively, an inexpensive configuration may allow for manual filling with gas 210 and manual pumping of water 110, 140 in lieu of a controller 280.
For boats such as the ones that will be described in FIGS. 68 and 79 , the perfect live well container 102 is padded and dark, at the same temperature 34 as the depth 36 at which the fish was caught, with no current flow, zero physical obstructions, simple shapes, rounded corners, smooth edges, no in-water electrical noise, limited physical noise, and reasonable water volume for protection in rough water. Additionally, the live well 102 would be protected when the boat 40 travels on plane and its pump intake 11 is out of the water 10, so the in-well temperature 34 does not rise and rapidly deplete oxygen levels.
The present invention delivers a system for dissolving gas (oxygen) in water 100 that may integrate with existing boat designs and angler behavior. The controller 280 minimizes the physical complexity of boat systems, including current and future interfaces to on-board sensors, switches, and multi-functional displays 290. The intelligent controller 280 allows for fewer pumps and plumbing lines while managing multiple live wells 102, and a system-wide framework allows the manufacturer to lower overall cost via rapid assembly, installation, and activation. An equally attractive, easy retrofit installation system 100 allows older boating systems to be upgraded to the same new technology. The system 100 can be remotely controlled and maintained via a multi-functional display 290 that may be located or mirrored on a website, smart phone, tablet, and/or computer communicating via wired or wireless technologies to inform the angler of changes and provide video of the live well 102 in real-time.
Turning to FIGS. 68-78 , the system for dissolving gas in water 100 is illustrated as applied to a big boat 40 flow-through system that uses oxygen gas 210 to preserve fish 20. A water fill pump with intake 144/11 on the hull of the boat 40 draws water 10 into a sea chest 38 at a rate of 2,500 GPH, for example, causing bubbles 13 of ambient air 15 and other gases. The water 10 is pumped through water hose 8 that is part of the boat's existing system through the water inlet/outlet fitting 134 on a large cylindrical mixing chamber 120 as described in FIGS. 7-17 . The mixing chamber 120 is filled with water 10. “On” switch 219 installed on a bypass T-fitting 195 off of gas line 214 is normally closed, but switches on momentarily to activate vent/purge solenoid 218 to clear the mixing chamber 120 of ambient air 15 and other gases via gas inlet/outlet fitting 131. Then a second “On” switch 219 momentarily activates “gas in” solenoid 217 causing gas 210 to flow from gas source 211 and regulator 212 through the gas line 214 and gas inlet/outlet fitting 131 to deliver a volume of gas 210 to the mixing chamber 120. A single charge may be sufficient to provide enough oxygen 210 for any loading offish 20, for long periods of time. Water fill pump with intake 144/11 pumps water 10 through the gas in the mixing chamber 120, in this instance usually without a mixing medium 170. This process may repeat frequently, regularly pushing gas-saturated water 140 out water inlet/outlet fitting 134 through tubing 136 and into container 102 at, for example, the nose of a tuna tube 116. Cooling methods such as thermoelectric cooler 252 are employed as described elsewhere in this specification, and any resultant heat is vented out of the boat 40. In this way, the valuable fish 20 is preserved. The tuna tube 116 water level 111 is higher than the water level 111 of the part of the container 102 holding smaller fish 20, so water 140, 110 spills over to those fish 20. Overflow tube 118 allows water 140, 110 to escape through drain hole 109 and the boat drain 119 as freshly oxygenated water 140 is sent to the container 102. When desired, the user may drain the mixing chamber 318 via a mixing chamber drain line 112 attached to the water drain fitting 134′.
Likewise, at the bottom portion of the housing 123, a second diverter plug 160 is inserted into the housing 122 tube and sealed with two O-rings 165 in two grooves 166 in the diverter plug 160 and secured by a U-shaped or other bolt 158 through housing apertures 121 and bolt apertures 169 in the diverter plug. The bottom 125 of the diverter plug 160 is inserted into the lower housing mount 128 and sealed with an O-ring 165 in a groove 166 in the diverter plug 160. In this position diverter plug 160 serves as an impingement plug 161 that may have a bubble trap 163 and an impingement medium 164 to retain bubbles 13 of gas 210 in the mixing chamber 120. Gas-saturated water 140 may exit the water inlet/outlet fitting 134 into container 102, and water drain fitting 134′ is a QD fitting that may be used to drain the mixing chamber 318. The diverter plug 160 is the housing bottom 125. One of skill in the art will appreciate the streamlined design of the mixing chamber 120 and understand that the mixing chamber 120 is not limited to this design. For example, a housing mount 128 may be formed with or incorporate features of a diverter plug 160. The mixing chamber may be about 4″ diameter×19″ long, but is not limited to that size. Many variations may be made with similar performance and/or for different desired performance, all delivering gas-saturated water 140 that is substantially or totally free of bubbles 13.
Diverter plugs 160 may come in far more varieties than those shown in FIGS. 73-78 , but in general each may function as a distributor 137 or an impingement plug 161 depending on its orientation in the mixing chamber 120. The plug wall 168 usually has bolt apertures 159 passing through and grooves 166 etched around for use as described. As shown in FIGS. 74,76 , and 78 the mounting apertures 162 for gas and/or water inlet outlet fittings, 131, 134 will always be at the housing top 124 or housing bottom 125. When the diverter plug 160 of FIG. 76 is installed at the top, with its diverter plate 160′ separated from the rest of the plug by spacers 167 has apertures 169 that will direct water 110 as a distributor 137 from a water inlet/outlet fitting 134 and into the mixing chamber 120. When the same diverter plug 160 is flipped vertically to resemble FIG. 75 and is installed at the housing bottom 125, then the diverter plate 160′ acts as an impingement plug 161 and holds bubbles 13 as a bubble trap 163 so they do not pass out of the water inlet/outlet fitting 134 and into the container 102, yet water 140 can pass. The same is true for FIGS. 78 and 77 , but an impingement medium 164 that is a multi-strand matrix 150 may be added to enhance the bubble trap 163. Rigid materials such as PVC, carbon, and other durable materials are favored for this use as diverter plugs 160, so they survive saltwater and provide strength to the mixing chamber 120. Workable materials allow for easy configuration of various spacers 167, apertures 169, 159, plates 160′, etc., which are not limited to the configurations provided herein. One diverter plug 160 does not have to serve multiple functions.
In use, the operator activates the system 100, and the pressure relief or vent/purge solenoid 218 is opened by the computer or controller 280 to purge air 304 by the rising water 110 in the mixing chamber 120. Source water 10 is pumped into the live well 302 to displace as much air 15 as possible from both chambers 102, 120. When the controller 280 senses maximum water fill, it deactivates the water pump 11/146, closes the vent/purge solenoid 218, and opens the oxygen “gas in” solenoid 217 via a preset pressure device to provide a slow fill of gas to the oxygenation mixing chamber 306. This is a filling, a constant pressure, not a flow of oxygen 210 through the mixing chamber 120.
To drain the live well container 102, the operator starts the water fill pump 144 and slowly vents the oxygen gas 210 from the mixing chamber 120 so water 110 displaces oxygen gas 210 at ambient pressure out the vented port fitting 202. When maximum water presence is sensed, the water fill pump 144 pulls the water out of the live well(s) 316, and a vacuum is formed in the mixing chamber 120 to draw ambient air 15 in and dilute any residual oxygen 210 at safe levels. A sensor informs the controller 280 to shut all systems off, and the mixing chamber may be drained 318.
A multi-parameter controller 280 monitors and controls (FIG. 27 , block 380) sensors and pumps/relays via plentiful wiring 283 or wirelessly. The mixing chamber 120 may be centrally located and shared thru valve switching with multiple containers 102, though only one is illustrated here. Each container 102 would have a water volume sensor and a dedicated pump to move its water 110, 140. The controller 280 may select a container 102 to monitor with its sensors for a short period of time before moving to another container 102.
The boat 40 transom may have a water pump with intake 11 at the surface or a thermocline pump 146 to pull water 10 from an optimum depth. Water 10 is pumped for a fixed period of time through filter 194 and tubing 136 to fill the live well or container 102 having lid 103. The incoming water 10 passes a temperature sensor 240 and a salinity sensor 241. Water fill pump 144 is a recirculation pump that pulls water 110, 140 from the container 102 to feed all of the devices monitored. Vent solenoid 218 on a gas line 214 from the vent fitting 202 on the mixing chamber 120 is activated for a fixed time to flood the mixing chamber 302 and vent ambient air 304. After the vent solenoid 218 closes, the oxygen “gas in” solenoid 217 on gas line 214 to the third port 132 is activated for a fixed time to allow the mixing chamber 120 to be fully charged with gas 306 (pure oxygen gas 210) from gas source 211 and regulator 212. The “gas in” solenoid 217 is then closed. Alternatively, a low-pressure disposable gas can 220 is tapped into gas line 214 using a gas fill valve fitting 215. On the way to the mixing chamber 120, water 110, 140 passes a second filter 194, a dissolved oxygen sensor 242, and a second temperature sensor 240. Optionally, water 110, 140 may be routed to thermoelectric cooler 252 on the way to the mixing chamber 120, while any resultant heat is vented from the boat 40. All water 110, 140 arrives at the fourth port 132 on the mixing chamber 120 equipped with a bypass such as a T-shaped bypass fitting 195. The controller 280 dictates whether the water 110, 140 goes into the mixing chamber 120 or bypasses and goes to the live well container 102 via conduit or tubing 136. Oxygenated or gas-saturated water 140 exits the first port 132 up tubing 136 to travel down the main water fill line 136 to container 102. The water level 111 in the container 102 is maintained via overflow tube 118.
The controller 280 initially establishes baseline data of the water 110 in the live well container 102. Upper and lower maintenance limits may be preset or manually set for dissolved oxygen content, salinity, and temperature based on target depth 36 values before fish 20 are placed in the live well 120. Additionally, as water pump with intake 146/11 is activated, the salinity levels of the live well 120 are compared to outside waters 10. If the outside waters 10 are not within preset limits, the controller 280 shuts off the pump with intake 146/11 to prevent salinity shock. Similarly, differences in outside and inside water temperatures are monitored to prevent thermal shock. The pump with intake 146/11 is typically off except for occasional refills used to add cooler, oxygenated, and/or clean water or for flushing ammonia buildup from the live well 102.
The controller 280 controls the speed of water fill pump 144 to the mixing chamber 120 based upon sensor measurements. Concurrently, if the container 120 temperature is not within limits, the thermoelectric cooler 250 will activate on a parallel branch of the recirculation circuit, cooling (or heating) water 140, 110 back to the mixing chamber 120 and live well 102. When cooling or oxygenating, the cooler water 140, 110 is presented to the mixing chamber 120 first. Cooler water increases oxygen saturation capabilities of the mixing chamber 120.
Common recirculation pump manifold 88 gives live well access via tubing 136 to treat water 110 and/or fish 20 at any stage determined and programmed by the operator (occasionally, continuously, or final clean-up). Various treatments may include pre-treating water, disinfection of fish, stabilization or medical treatment of fish, water chemistry, eliminating parasites or invasive species, disinfection of the live well and support systems, and other processes and treatments. Multiple pumps on the manifold 88 enable multiple devices, including ammonia abatement 80, UV sterilization 82, ozone generation 84, and peristaltic pump 86. These devices are discussed further below.
An ultraviolet light sterilizer 82 is well suited for unseen, hard to kill organisms. (A zebra mussel flagellate, for example, cannot be seen floating in the live well.) The UV sterilizer 82 is a multi-pass, recirculating system component that destroys the tissue and DNA of invasive species at this level, as well as other living organisms such as viruses and bacteria. The entire live well 102 volume of water 110 is passed thru this sanitizing device several times in an hour. This sanitizer will not kill organism residing on the interior of a live well wall 105. UV light is chemical-free, environmentally friendly, and may be used in tandem with other treatments.
An in-line peristaltic pump 86 is yet another sanitizing alternative. Any chemical may be dosed with great precision, which is needed when using high concentration chemicals in low-volume live wells 102. Concentrates allow for lower storage volume of corrosive/toxic chemicals. Chlorine is cheap and efficient, and marine organisms are especially sensitive to chlorine even in very small doses. Concurrent use of hyper-saturated oxygen and chlorine in solution will exponentially expand the sanitizing power of both systems. The precise dosing helps prevent residual chlorine in the live well and ensures that excess chemical will not be pumped overboard into the native waters. The system may include a specialized wash down spray pump to allow previously sanitized live well water to be used in a wash down process.
Finally, the present system 100 can produce hyper-oxygenated/heated water by reversing the polarity (DC power) to the thermoelectric cooler 252 and raise oxygenation levels rapidly to ˜300%. Highly oxygenated water 140 is a chemical-free sanitizer with power and speed to kill invasive species. Once the day's catch is removed from the live well 102, the mixing chamber 120 can be activated to produce levels of dissolved oxygen beyond anything normally found in nature. This use is not limited to oxygen, but may use other gases 210.
The peristaltic pump 86 may be used to timely and precisely dose fish 20 with stabilizing chemicals to increase post-release survival rates. Various beneficial chemicals can be injected into the live well 102 at strategic times to protect a fish's slime coat, treat damage from hooks, reduce respiration rates and stress, and more. Treatment may vary with species of fish and season and be provided with minimal operator attention.
Alternatively, an ozone generator 84 may output ozone in general solution to sanitize and treat potential infections caused by the hooking, capture, handling, penning, and release of fish. The ozone gas generator 84 may have a dedicated mixing chamber 120 according to previously discussed configurations.
In the present embodiment, a dual check valve system 191 for keeping a fill pump primed between intermittent operation of the pump and dissolving gasses in water comprises a water intake assembly or pump intake assembly 196 with a first check valve 113 in a polycarbonate water input conduit or intake tube 136 and a pump output assembly 197 with a second check valve 192 within a fitting 149, output conduit or tubing 136, or chamber 120. Tubing 136, 136′ at the check valves 113, 192 is not limited to polycarbonate, but ideally is durable underwater and resists deformation from the shape of the check valves 113, 192. Check valves 113, 192 are not limited to a particular type, but preferably have a low opening pressure that allows a high flow through rate, such as a “joker valve.” Duckbill valves or other valves may be employed when they meet the required functionality. Without use of two check valves 192, 113, any fitting leaks or other leaks will cause the water fill pump 11, 144 to lose prime.
Use of two check valves 192, 113 in line is a novel solution for existing kayak live well systems that tend to let water 10 slip out of the vertical “column” around the impeller of the pump 11. In the prior art, an angler has to paddle a heavy kayak 44 strenuously forward with enough speed to force water 10 up the intake tube under the kayak 44 and into the pump's impeller in order to start powered flow and filling of the live well. Many anglers cannot do so. If the pump 11 stops, prime is lost, the live well starts to drain, and the angler must paddle strenuously with a mostly full live well to prime again.
Design of a dual check valve system 191 may employ any configuration that forms a vacuum between the two check valves 192, 113 and keeps the non-self-priming pump 144 primed. A vacuum or vent port 117 is placed between the check valves 192, 113 at or above the fill pump 144 impeller (not shown) for a manual (such as a depressible bulb or a 100 cc syringe) or motorized vacuum pump 114 to evacuate both air 15 and water 10, allowing water 10 to enter the first/lower check valve 113 and the pump 144 impeller area, at which time the higher speed of the fill pump 144 fills the live well 102. A port or flow indicator 445 (see FIG. 95 ) may be included on the live well 102 to allow water 110 to squirt out as proof of prime and ongoing water pump 144 function. With this configuration, the fill pump 144 may be stopped and restarted or set to a slow speed for constant flow, saving the angler significant battery power, heat, and strenuous paddling to prime.
In one configuration, the output side of the water pump 144 is vertically oriented, as shown with the elbow or pump output fitting 149 and output conduit or output tubing 136, 136′ on the water pump 144. Tubing 136, 136′ has a check valve 192 that allows water 10 to pass from the water pump 144 and prevent reverse flow and loss of prime in the water pump 144. After the tubing 136 is first filled with water 110, a pool of water 110 in the tube 136 and above the check valve 192 will assure that fluids are not leaked in reverse flow. The check valve 192 is designed to handle significant reverse pressure. Even when the top of the check valve 192 is exposed above water 110 in the container 102, gravitational pull on the water 10 in the water pump 144 and intake tube 136 causes a pressure differential in the check valve 192 that functions as a vacuum below the check valve 192 and increases closing pressure on the check valve 192, thus preventing air leaks and loss of prime. This benefit exists even with leaky fittings. Check valves 192 may be held in place with retention caps 193. Since check valves 192 increase water exit velocity, a diverter/distributor 137 or clear space is preferably in place to protect fish 20 from being blasted by bubbles 13 and water flow from the pump 144. Water pumps 11, 144, 146, and 244 (among others) may perform multiple functions and be located in various places, and are often interchangeable.
A 12VDC or 6VDC battery and timer will run the pump 144 full speed to rapidly fill the container 102 and go into a fixed refill on/off cycle every few minutes with zero operator interface. These are pulse-width-modulation speed control and timing events that extend battery life and reduce heat in the live well 102 due to pump 144 operation by operating only when needed. A soft-start “pulsing” mode prevents pump cavitation and overcomes the cracking pressure of the check valves 192, 113. In a closed system, new water 10 is pumped in every few minutes to replenish dissolved oxygen levels and flush out ammonia. The on/off times may be adjusted with controller 280, or an angler may use manual controls. In some configurations, 17VDC allows integration with fish finders, Li-Po battery cells, and programmable chips.
In a flow-thru system ammonia will never build to toxic levels with reasonable programming because fresh water is brought in at every gas-saturation cycle. The disadvantage is that incoming water 10 makes temperature regulation difficult. The better solution is to have independent water pump 244, 144 run water 110, 140 across the cooling pack 248/heat exchanger 250 to cool any new, incoming water 10. The advantages of this configuration are that cooling control is possible, fresh water is only brought in to flush ammonia, and less power is used. No incoming water 10 need be allowed if it is undesirable.
Flow-thru kayak systems are typically designed for operation with sealed lids 103 that keep ambient air 15 out. However, an air vent port 201 on the container 102 and an air hose or gas line 214 may be connected to an inductor tube 131 placed in the primary flow immediately after the second check valve 192. In a simple economy version, the check valve 192 may be joined to T-shaped bypass fitting 195 with air hose 7 joining the “T” perpendicular to the flow of water 110, such that the “T” (or “Y”) includes the inductor tube 131 that introduces air 15 into the water stream. The water's 110 exit velocity creates a bubble cloud 13 that increases the saturation of oxygen 210 in the incoming water 110, which may pass through a strainer-like diverter 137 or otherwise be diverted and sprayed at the live well's 102 water surface 111 to help reduce bubbles 13 in the output flow. Thus, fresh air 15 is transported into the container 102 without compromising water-tight integrity. Further improvements for greater oxygenation efficiency will be described below.
Turning to FIGS. 81-145 , we expound upon numerous configurations utilizing check valves in systems for oxygenating water or dissolving gasses in water 100. FIG. 81 illustrates a horizontally oriented output port fitting 149 on water pump 144 and a horizontal pump output assembly 197 having check valve 192 in a protective tube 136′. Pump intake assembly 196 (aka water intake assembly) comprises tubing 136 that contains a filter 135 and check valve 113 ahead of the pump 144. Air hose or gas line 214 on vacuum port 117 is used to vent air 15 and water 10 from between the check valves 113, 192. Water 110 passing into the container 102 produces bubbles 13 that provide some oxygenation in a flow-through system. (Bung plug 265 shown in FIG. 82 is discussed elsewhere. Advanced features include a camera 263, lights 286, 287, and thermistor 240.) FIG. 83 is the system of FIG. 81 with an inductor tube incorporated as a gas inlet or fitting 131 on the pump output assembly 197. Gas line 214 may carry air or oxygen to the gas fitting 131 to be churned into the water 110 exiting the second check valve 192 in a vortex plume of bubbles 13 to oxygenate the water 110. This system is not limited to oxygen 210, but may utilize other gases 210 and chemicals for different end uses.
In communication with a mixing chamber 120, an antechamber 209 may comprise both the water entrance (water inlet 134) and gas entrance (gas inlet 131) ahead of the mixing chamber 120, such that the water inlet 134 and gas inlet 131 are in communication with the mixing chamber 120, whether said communication is arguably direct or indirect. For example, pump output assembly 197 placed on a mixing chamber 120 may be considered a direct entrance to the mixing chamber 120 or an indirect entrance to the mixing chamber 120 via antechamber 209, wherein the tubing 136, 136′ is the antechamber 209 and its parts are in communication with the mixing chamber 120. A one-piece Venturi chamber may form an antechamber 209, although the antechamber 209 is not limited to a Venturi design.
Returning to FIG. 86 , longer tubing 136 is added to the pump output assembly 197, restricting the flow of water 110 and gas 210 to a smaller area with increased pressure and more serious mixing. A distributor 137 may be placed at the exit end of the tubing 136. In FIG. 87 , mixing medium 170 is placed in the tubing 136 to cause streaming along the strands 151 and greater dissolving of gas 210. These pump output assemblies 197 are simple mixing chambers 120.
In FIGS. 89-91 , the mixing chamber 120 is horizontally removed from the fill pump 144 to allow more placement options behind the partition and a more economical mixing chamber 120 construction in which water 110 flows downward. All elements of FIG. 89 are the same as FIG. 88 with the addition of long tubing 136 from the pump output assembly 197 to the mixing chamber 120, which means check valve 192 is not inside the mixing chamber 120, although the inductor tube 131 is present. In FIG. 90 , the check valve 192 remains at the fill pump 144, but the inductor tube 131 is placed in-line in tubing 136 that leads from the check valve 192 to the mixing chamber 120. Locating the inductor tube 131 near or above the water surface 111 in the live well 102 reduces pressure and allows greater pull of ambient air 15. In FIG. 91 , the inductor tube 131 is located with the check valve 192. Again, this means the mixing chamber 120 contains no check valve 192 (see FIG. 92 , for example). However, the down flow mixing chamber 120 may comprise check valve 192 as in FIG. 124 . System design is not limited to the configurations illustrated. Finally, FIG. 95 is an illustration of FIGS. 88 and 80 combined, with cooling pump 244 and ice box 264 with ice holder lid 249 made of a hard plastic or other hard material that seals securely. (In a warm environment, surface water 10 may first be routed to a cooling system that uses artificial ice 248, for example. However, energy must be constantly expended to moderate well temperatures as cooling is lost in overflow water during refills.) In a hot environment, an oxygen system 200 and an auxiliary water pump 244 must be used to recirculate cooled water 344 to the mixing chamber 120. Also added are bung plug 265 and multi-port 180 with camera 263, lights 286, 287, and temperature sensor 240 as discussed elsewhere. “Lid open” sensor 288 activates lighting in the live well 102.
In general, an up-flow mixing chamber 120 comprises three cylinders or tubes 136′, 136″, 122 that are mounted axially and parallel in the same plane in order to deliver oxygenation in a small space using a labyrinth gravity structure. First or central tubing 136′ may receive the check valve 192 at the lower portion 123 of the housing 122. Second or middle tubing 136″ is placed around the central tubing 136′, and the third or outer tubing is the mixing chamber housing 122. As will be seen, central tubing 136′ feeds into middle tubing 136″, and the space between the middle tubing 136″ and the housing 122 forms a vent tube 118′. Tubing 136′, 136″, 122, 118′ is not limited to concentric or parallel design or placement, or to round shapes as shown, and they may be formed together from a number of processes, including extrusion or printing as one part. Tubing 136′, 136″, 122 preferably comprise a see-through material such as polycarbonate or another material that allows an angler to see water 110 and gas bubbles 13 inside, but is not limited to clear or transparent material unless specified. Central tubing 136′ is designed with various pressure-balancing agitation apertures 199 to aid water flow.
The mixing chamber 120 comprises a housing top 124, a top plate 204, a water distributor 137 having raised plate 160′ to direct water 110 across the mixing medium 170, and a distributor plate 205 and bubble trap 163 at the lower portion 123. The lower bubble trap 163 is formed by a diverter plate 160′ and another distributor 137 that is the housing bottom 125, with a multi-strand matrix 150 (likely an impingement medium 164) in between for trapping bubbles 13. Each of these parts have apertures that allow fluids to pass. The housing top 124, top plate 204, housing bottom 125, diverter plate 160′ and lower distributor plate 205 have central and/or other apertures 162 through which central tubing 136″ top gas inlet 131, and recirculating water inlet 134 enter the mixing chamber. Further, the housing top 124, top plate 204, and lower distributor plate 205 have apertures 118′ that align to form vent tube 118′ with middle tubing 136″and housing 122. Vent tube 118′ is not limited to this configuration, but may be comprised of one or more tubes 118′ having fewer to no interruptions from top to bottom.
In FIG. 110 , as oxygenated water 140 continues to descend below the middle tubing 136″, unmixed air 15 is bounced, escapes, and ascends between the middle tubing 136″ and housing 122 toward the top of the container 102. Some water 140 travels with the bubbles 13. Gravity drives the air bubbles 13 to the surface 141 of the water 140 in the live well 102, where the bubbles 13 break and create some secondary oxygen 120 transfer at the surface 141. A smaller number of tiny bubbles 13 pass through an open space below the distributor plate 205 and are either bounced upward from an impingement plate 160′ or trapped in a bubble trap 163 or impingement medium 164 before also rising toward the water surface 141 between the middle tubing 136″ and housing 122. Oxygenated water 140 that is substantially free of bubbles 13 passes through the housing bottom 125 and into the container 102. FIG. 111 illustrates that the fill pump 144 may be shut off and treated water recirculated 344 through the water inlet 134 at the top of the mixing chamber 120. FIG. 112 is a close-up of water 140 entering and hitting the impingement or diverter plate 160′ before passing through the upper distributor 137. Air 15 may continue to be drawn in. In FIG. 113 , the air 15 is shut off, and recirculation 344 continues to oxygenate though fewer bubbles remain. Finally, in FIG. 114 , the process restarts as gas and water are again introduced 306, 310.
Turning now to FIG. 124 , we illustrate the dual check valve system 191 in conjunction with a more streamlined down-flow mixing chamber 120 designed for remote mounting in a portion of a live well 102 with a limited height and depth in order to leave most of the container 102 free for fish 20. This configuration may be referred to as having a 3-cylinder or 2-cylinder mixing chamber 120, as the central tubing 136′ is truncated.
Mixing chamber 120 may be placed farther away from the pump 144, as a tube 136 or 136′ runs from the pump 144 output side to a quick disconnect, elbow, or other pump output fitting 149. Check valve 192 in outlet tube 136′ is located a short distance from the elbow fitting 149 in order to bypass electronics cup 289. The check valve 192 is positioned to allow a forward flow from the pump 144 downward into the mixing chamber 120 at top plate 204. The outlet tube 136, 136′ and/or check valve 192 may be separate from the mixing chamber 120 or be considered part of the mixing chamber 120, wherein the check valve 192 is a water entrance or inlet 134, depending upon the application.
Mixing chamber 120 comprises a housing top 124, a top plate 204, a water distributor 137, a lower plate or distributor plate 205, and a bubble trap 163 at the lower portion 123. The lower bubble trap 163 is formed by a diverter plate 160′ and another distributor 137 that is the housing bottom 125, with a multi-strand matrix 150 (likely an impingement medium 164) in between for trapping bubbles 13. Each of these parts have apertures that allow fluids to pass. The housing top 124, top plate 204, and water distributor 137 have central and/or other apertures 162 through which central tubing 136″, top gas inlet 131, and recirculating water inlet 134 enter the mixing chamber. Further, the housing top 124 top plate, 204, water distributor 137, and lower distributor plate 205 have apertures 118′ that align to form vent tube 118′ with middle tubing 136″ and housing 122. Vent tube 118′ is not limited to this configuration, but may be comprised of one or more tubes 118′ having fewer interruptions from top to bottom. Otherwise, the top plate 204 and distributor plate 205 have similar structure and function to that described for the up-flow configuration. The middle tubing 136″ is filled with mixing medium 170, with void or bubble trap 163 defined by a bubble bouncer plate 160′ and the surrounding mixing medium 170 that provides room for water 110 flowing across gas inlet 131 to cause a reduction in pressure and to create a vortex cloud of air bubbles 13, when using ambient air 210.
As demonstrated, a mixing chamber 120 may be considered an assembly of one or more tubes 136 that feed water from one tube 136 to another; in other words, a tubing assembly or conduit assembly. In various configurations of up-flow or down-flow mixing chambers 120 and related systems, inlets 131, 134 may be used interchangeably to introduce gas 210 and water 110, 140. These fluids may be introduced through separate inlets 131, 134 or a shared inlet 131, 134 that may be an antechamber 209.
As previously mentioned with FIG. 30 , a water pick-up or system for pumping water from a depth 400 below a vessel 101 such as a container 102, boat 40, or kayak 44, or even from a pier or land 30 as in FIG. 151 , comprises a retractable tube 136 that descends to a selectable depth 32, 36 in a body of water 10, is fitted to work with a pump 143, 144, 146 to move water from the depth, and is itself drawn back from the depth. In certain configurations, the retractable tube 136 travels with or on a pole 401, and the retraction of the tubing 136 is aided by retraction of the retractable pole 136. Configurations of shallow water anchors 402 or poles 401 include cantilever, vertical retrieval (telescoping or otherwise), other pole-driving systems, hand push spikes, and “throw overboard” coils, among others.
In FIGS. 30 and 152-155 , pole 401 comprising pole sections 401′ telescopes from hull mount 405 as part of an anchor or anchor assembly 402 having a motorized mechanism 404 for moving the pole 401. The pole 401 retracts for storage, and utility reel 148 winds and unwinds tube 136 that carries wiring 283 on or inside the tube 136 (see close-up in FIG. 154 ). At the boat 40, flow indicator 445 sprays water 10, makes noise, lights up, or otherwise shows a display 290 when the pump is pumping. Tube 136 and wire 283 separate at a splitter 443 (see close-up in FIG. 153 ) from which the wire travels to the controller 280 and the water 10 to container 102. The pole 401 also carries a pump assembly housing 421 and mud puck assembly 450 that will be discussed later. The difference in the systems 400 of FIGS. 152 and 155 is the type of pump employed. FIG. 152 illustrates a positive displacement pump that is a “suck pump” 146, 144, 11 within the boat 40. FIG. 155 illustrates a pump assembly 420 that houses a blow pump 146, 144 that blows water 10 up from depth. The pump may also be a hybrid of the two types and is not limited to a particular type of pump except as necessary for a configuration.
As shown in cut-away FIGS. 159-160 , pump assembly 420 comprises pump assembly housing 421 having a housing body 422 that may be cylindrical and is secured by a housing top 423 and housing bottom 424, with a mud puck assembly 450 on the housing bottom 424. The top 423 has a temperature sensor 240, water sensor 447, 147, hose output port/valve 190 connected to tube 136, and electrical cable port with strain relief feature 429 connected to wire 283. Certain embodiments also have a gas line 214 (also FIG. 161 , illustrated in dashed lines) that may be located within or on the tube 136 to pump or inject ambient air or oxygen 210 to depth. Connections are sealed with water-tight epoxy. A screen filter 143 is a secondary filter that screws through the housing bottom 424 from the mud puck assembly 450. A high-performance blow pump 146 is capable of pumping water from about 70 feet for thirty minutes straight, but is not limited to those performance ranges, and is cooled by water within the pump 146 and the air space surrounding the pump 146 within the housing 221. Also within the housing 221 is a multi-strand matrix 150 that serves as a filter 135; thus, the interior of the housing 221 may be structured as a mixing chamber 120 in certain embodiments, and injected gas 210 is pressurized at depth and induces gas-saturated water 140 to rise up the tube 136. The pump assembly 420 comprises an interface bracket or mounting bar 426 having a variety of mounting apertures 427 by which a clamp 410 with a rapid release fastener 412 secures the pump assembly 420 to allow small adjustments to the pump 146 height and balance on the pole 401. FIG. 161 shows how the location of the pump assembly 420 may be adjusted up and down the pole 401, which is about ¾″ diameter, but is not limited to that size. Parts are typically constructed of PVC, aluminum, stainless steel, polycarbonate, fiberglass, carbon, composites, or other marine-friendly materials.
The water safety interlock triggered by water sensor 447, 147 ensures that the pump 146 is operational only when submerged in water 10, in order to preserve the pump 146 and prevent injury at the exit end of the tubing 136, and to ensure that lights 287 are operational only when water 10 is present to cool them. A strand, array, or single LED 287 emits light from the pump assembly housing 421 to attract fish 20 and allow users to see underwater. Light is not limited to use of LEDs, but may employ lights 287 that perform the intended function, including lights that generate greater heat since the lights are water-cooled. Thus, the light 287 may be extremely bright, with color options based on water 10 color and clarity.
When the mud puck assembly 450 is activated and the retraction cup 454 closed to prohibit water 10 from entering, or if the intake holes 455 are otherwise clogged, the pump 146 can run yet not pump water 10. For this reason, a water pump pressure sensor 446 located between the pump 146 and the live well 102 senses when water 10 flows into the well 102, and the display 290 gives visual and audible notice of each pump 146 activation. Controller 280 logic prevents pump 146 from overheating.
A mixing chamber 120 of the various types described previously may also be mounted on the pole 401 if there is need for the water 10 to be very well oxygenated prior to entering the vessel 101. Alternatively, the filter 150, 135 area below the thermocline pump 146 or other available space above the pump 146 within the pump assembly housing 421 may be configured as a mixing chamber 120. To oxygenate with ambient air 15, a gas line 214 with a 3-way valve such as a modified multi-port 180 or T-shaped bypass fitting 195 is mounted to a cantilever beam 406 at a location that will be just above water level when the cantilevered beam 406 is fully deployed at depth 32. The pump output assembly 197 with gas inlet 131 is installed at the thermocline pump 146. Up-flow, down-flow, or modified versions of other mixing chambers 120 will send bubble-free water 140 up the tubing 136 to the live well 102. Gas 210 in the mixing chamber 120 will be under significant pressure, thus increasing efficiency of absorption. If oxygen 210 is utilized instead of ambient air 15, the oxygen 210 is pressurized to barely overcome the pressures at maximum pole 401 depth to reach the mixing chamber 120. Gas 210 will cause cavitation and small bubble fracture in the pump's impeller at depth 36 and provide a boost of oxygenation when the pump 146 turns on and increase pressure on the gas 210 before reaching the live well 102. These configurations and methods may be used to compliment other mixing chamber 120 technologies including filling onboard mixing chambers 120.
Looking now at FIGS. 166-183 , a system for pumping water from depth 400 and anchor assembly 402 comprises a pole 401 that functions as both an anchor and a push pole for quietly stalking fish 20 in shallow water 10 while on a flat-bottomed kayak 44, skiff, or other vessel 101. Convertible functionality and slim-line design are structural elements that produce an economical product. This system for pumping water from depth 400 generally comprises the same blow pump assembly 420, sensors (147, 446-447 and 240-242), mud puck assembly 450, controller 280, and communication and display 290 as the cantilevered system for pumping water from depth 400. However, the anchor assembly 402 differs, as explained below.
In a preferred embodiment of a pole driving system 500 that deploys a pole 401 vertically, a motorized pinch roller 404 is mounted to a vessel 40 such that pole sections 401′ descend and ascend overboard through the pinch roller 404, though the system is not limited to a pinch roller. Poles 401 (or their sections 401′ that transport and store disassembled) typically are about ¾″ diameter and range from 4′ to 15′ in length with a pointed end 413 for driving or staking into seabed 30 and an opposite end 414 shaped to be used as a paddle and for pushing off of mud and grabbing fishing lines and stuck lures. Pole sections 401′ may be hollow or solid and are joined by pole connectors 415 having male-female connection points 418 and set screw recesses 419. Pole connector 415 may have accessory holes 519 into which accessory pins 518 may be inserted and held in place by a ball plunger 517. Various parts throughout the system are secured by fasteners 503 including, but not limited to set screws, Allen screws, and bolts. All of these parts may be made of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, fiberglass, metal, carbon, plastics, and composites.
The challenge for placing a pump assembly 420 on such a pole driving system 500 is the ability to drive the pump assembly 420 to different depths 32 with easy adjustment and to easily “park” the pump assembly 420 in a position where the pole 401 may be raised and quickly removed from the pinch roller 404 for use as a push pole in the event of a problem that requires repositioning of the kayak 44 or vessel 101. Reinsertion of the pole 401 should also require minimum angler effort.
To solve those issues, an upper stop 502 having vertically oriented magnets 506 is affixed to the hull mount 405 or housing of the pinch roller 404 about the downward base or block 503 where the pole 401 exits downward from between the pinch rollers 404. Upper stop 502 is fixed in place, typically with Allen screws or other fasteners 503. A traveling carriage 505 is mated underneath the upper stop 502 with vertically oriented magnets 506 that self-align with the magnets 506 of the upper stop 502. Aiding alignment are coordinated “V” shapes 507 formed in the mated surfaces 508, 509 of the upper stop 502 and the carriage 505, respectively. The upper stop 502 and carriage 505 are cylinders (though not limited to cylindrical shape) with ¾″ apertures 510, 511 through which the pole 401 may pass when unengaged. The suck pump assembly 420 is secured to the carriage 505 by a bracket 513 so the pump assembly 420 will move with the carriage 505.
In FIGS. 173-175 , the carriage 505 has radially set ball poppets, indexers, or ball plungers 517 that activate into the carriage aperture 511 at accessory holes 519. Ideally, there are two to three vertically spaced rows or ball plungers 517. As shown in FIGS. 167-168 , the pole 401, particularly at its connectors 415 that join sections 401′, has two to three rows of radial detents or grooves 417 that are vertically spaced to match the spacing between rows of ball plungers 517. In FIG. 173 , as pole 401 with pole connector 415 passes through the carriage 505, the balls of the plungers 517 fall into the pole grooves 417 simultaneously, temporarily locking the pole 401 and carriage 505 together. If the user does not release the carriage 505 from the upper stop 501 to travel, pole 401 will pass through and push away the balls of the plungers 517 (at a motor force that is calculated to overpower the magnetic force). If the user releases the carriage 505, then the pole 401 and carriage 505 with pump assembly 420 will travel together. This structure and functionality and the pole connectors 415 are novel. Alternatively, horizontally oriented magnets 506 or snap O-rings (not shown) may be used to act in place of ball plungers 517 and pole connector grooves 417. The poles 401 or pole connectors 415 may comprise embedded magnets 506 or a metal that will attract magnets 506, as well as some non-magnetic portions such as a knurled metal for gripping and tightening pole sections 401′.
In practice, the user decides on a total assembled pole 401 length to properly penetrate the bed 30 and assembles pole sections 401′ considering the depth 32 to which the pump should descend without activating the mud puck 450. Each pole section 401′ represents a length, and pole connectors 415 can be installed in various locations at various lengths. The user notes the connector 415 at which the carriage 505 will “lock on” to achieve the targeted depth 36. When the pole 401 is placed into the pinch rollers 404, the user will see most of the pole 401 above the motorized mechanism 404. Using mounted or remote controls 280, the pole 401 is driven downward. When the desired connector 415 enters the motorized mechanism 404, the user triggers carriage 505 release by pulling a cord 520 attached to a cam assembly 522, or by otherwise releasing in a manner having similar function. For example, in FIG. 178 the pole 401 begins to descend and pole grooves 417 are visible just above and heading into the motorized mechanism 404. The user pulls the cord 520, and in FIG. 179 the carriage 505 latches onto those pole grooves 417 and descends with the pole 401.
Best seen in FIGS. 169-170 , cord 520 is secured on one end near the user with one or more clamp balls 522 for ease of control. The cord 520 passes through aligned apertures (including safety release 524) and is secured to a pawl or cam activation lever 531 on a face of the upper stop 502 to enable a direct pull, without torque, to activate the carriage 505. The cam activation lever 531 is typically vertically oriented, with a bolt or fastener 503 passing through the cam activation lever 531 to an eccentrically shaped cam 530 in a machined recess 529 on the upper stop 502. A cam “return” spring or retraction spring 532 is a bungee cord that ties the cam activation lever 531 to a guide wing of the docking guide 504. Alternatively, the cam retraction spring 532 may be a non-bungee spring located in a machined recess 529 at the cam 530.
In FIGS. 171-172 and 173-175 a slight pull on the cord 520 rotates the cam activation lever 531, engages the cam 530 to turn, and causes cam lobe 534, which may be more or less pronounced depending upon design, to reach a point of contact 535 (typically the top of an inverted “V” 507) with the carriage 505 and push the carriage 505 away from the upper stop 502, sufficiently, but not totally, breaking the magnetic hold of the upper stop 502 on the carriage 505. At that instance, the carriage 505 aligns with and attaches to the pole connector 415 passing through the pinch roller 404. In other words, physical disengagement of the carriage 505 via the cam 530 allows the pull of the pole 401 to overcome the magnetic pull of the upper stop 502; if the lever is released soon thereafter, as if the user decided not to release the carriage 505, the magnetism of the upper stop 502 will pull the carriage 505 back into parked position. Upon escape from the upper stop 502, the carriage 505 travels with the pole 401. Letting go of the cord 520 returns the cam retraction spring 532 and cam lobe 534 to their normal parked positions so magnets 506 on the carriage 505 are free to re-engage and join the carriage 505 with the upper stop 502 as the user directs. FIGS. 180-183 provide two examples of pump assembly 420 depth settings. In FIGS. 180-181 , most of the pole 401 has already descended when the user pulls cord 520 to release the carriage 505. The pole 401 then travels only a short distance before anchoring, deploying the pump assembly 420 near the water's surface. The angler decides to raise the pole 401 back up to park the pump assembly 420 and reset the pump 146 depth. In FIGS. 182-183 , the user sends the pole 401 down again, but pulls the cord 520 as the lowest pole connector 415 enters the carriage 505, and the pump assembly 420 anchors in deeper, cooler water 10.
In parked position, pump assembly 420 is preferably situated just below the waterline 9 to allow the live well 102 to be filled with surface water 10 without a pole 401 in the pinch rollers 404, such as when the pole 401 must be used for another need. Water sensor 447 provides pump 146 safety. Tubing 136 and wiring 283 on the pump assembly 420 travel with the pole 401, and a fixed length of tubing 136 and wiring 283 is fed to the live well 102 as necessary. If the pump assembly 420 is deployed underwater and the carriage 505 is hit by an obstruction, or if the pole 401 is over-driven into mud activating the mud puck 450, the magnetic force between the carriage 505 and pole connector 415 is overcome, pushing the carriage 505 up the pole 401 out of harm's way. On retracting the pole 401, a connector 415 re-engages and picks up the carriage 505. A heavy pull on the cord 520 trips a safety release 524 that allows the upper stop 502 and the pole 401 to hinge toward a 90 degree angle to lift the pole 401 off the bottom 30 for quick removal.
Beyond the portable configurations discussed thus far, live wells or containers 102 may be utilized in trucks, shipping containers, and other forms of transport. The previous embodiments may be implemented in mobile applications, benefitting from the efficiency, environmental control, and safety factors of a bubble-less system. Most transport systems like fish trucks utilize a form of oxygen bubbler to provide very high densities of fish with oxygen. These systems suffer the same problems as in smaller live well systems discussed previously. The constant flow of oxygen in a refrigerated vehicle on the road is costly, and the hazards of carrying high pressure tanks of oxygen over the road are well documented. They have an inherent build-up of oxygen within the fish tank air spaces, creating a flash fire hazard. Exposure to heat in the open environment increases the risk of an accidental oxygen fire. Many of these systems do not provide for CO2/Nitrogen scrubbing of these highly loaded fish tanks, and they have no ability to control fish tank temperatures while in transport or to temper the fish wells to a target temperature at a release site. Many of these systems don't have the ability to automatically chemically pre-treat fish for ammonia toxicity or for release. These issues on a typical fish transport truck are eliminated by the previous novel embodiments.
Hydroculture-Aquaponics/Hydroponics—To aid hydroculture in rapid growth of plants, CO2 gasses are pumped into bubblers within large pools of nutrient laden water, often in a closed greenhouse environment. Excess gas escapes as CO2 bubbles break open at the surface of the water, contaminating the air where humans are present. Long term low level exposure can cause harm to humans. Short-term high levels of exposure can cause unconsciousness and death. This gas has no odor and cannot be seen. These systems of CO2 infusion require a constant flow and are a highly inefficient use of a greenhouse gas. The gas is a major cost factor in the practice of aquaponics farming. This embodiment utilizes the previous novel mixing chamber and control systems for aquaponics farmers to dissolve CO2 and other gasses into these nutrient rich waters. This system can be scaled up to be used in aquaponics, but prior art systems are too cumbersome and large to be able to say the reverse.
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- Aquaculture—Use of the embodiments discussed herein, with their demonstrated efficiencies, would benefit the aquaculture industry. The ability to better utilize oxygen in this industry is a major operational cost factor. The present technology can be scaled upwards to address the needs for better efficiency in this non-portable industry. The reverse cannot be said for the ability to downscale prior art refrigerated oxygen storage tanks and three-phase powered heavy air compressor systems into a portable carry solution.
- Waste Processing—The waste processing industry could benefit from the discussed embodiments as the efficient use of oxygen is a major cost factor in this industry. Many municipalities utilize inefficient air/oxygen bubblers to treat sludge, which is difficult to treat at the bottom of the sludge tank. The oxygenation mixer would allow significantly higher oxygenation of sludge at lower sludge levels than the current technology. In practice, allowing a shorter conversion treatment process of the sludge reduces retention times of the treated waste.
- Water Treatment—Municipal water treatment facilities often process drinking water for the public from native waters. Increasingly, these waters are contaminated with aquatic invasive species that infect water processing structures. Buildup of these animals on pipe interiors reduces flow rates and efficiencies of these facilities. The embodiments disclosed may be scaled to treat these invasive species without the use of dangerous chemicals or laborious pigging operations.
- Swimming Pools—Recreational systems typically use a chlorine sanitizer (whether solid, liquid, or gas) to oxidize bacteria, viruses, molds, fungus, and waste. The cost of chlorine in any form is significant in the overall maintenance of a pool system. Chlorine is toxic and hazardous to transport, store, or apply. Typically, pools that are treated with chlorine must also be treated with muriatic acid or sulfuric acid to maintain pH levels friendly to swimmers. The present invention can dissolve chlorine gas into the pool water, as well as monitor and inject acid and other chemicals to reduce or eliminate human maintenance exposure. To reduce or eliminate cost, low-cost carbon dioxide gas will process easily in the mixing chamber to produce carbonic acid at high rates for sanitization of the pool water. Use of carbonic acid is a self-correcting, stabilizing component in maintaining constant levels of pool chemistry.
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- The following discussion details certain of the inventor's findings during development, when oxygen was the
gas 210 being dissolved inwater 110 for the purpose of preservingfish 20. To prove the process for dissolving gas inwater 300, a common glass 5-gallon aquarium 2/102 was used as a test tank with a 6-inch diameter by 10″ long, clearplastic mixing chamber 120 to mimic a closed reservoir live well system (CRLW). Thecontainer 102 was filled and later topped off withwater 110. Trappedambient air 15 was manually purged. After themixing chamber 120 was flooded by theventing process 304, thevent 202 was closed. - The mixing
chamber 120 was designed to put only appropriate amounts ofpure oxygen 210 or gas comprising oxygen into thewater 110 without introducing toxic levels of anygas 210. The top 124 of thecylinder 120 was capped air- and water-tight and fitted with an oxygen inlet/outlet fitting 131. Agas line 214 from theoxygen supply 211 was attached to fitting 131, and an additional T fitting 195 tapped into thesame line 214 with the valve/vent fitting 202 for purging ambient air 15 (about 21% oxygen/78% nitrogen) from the mixingchamber 120.Gas line 214 was attached to apressurized oxygen source 211 that was permitted to flow viaregulator 6 to displace thewater 110 in the mixing chamber until it was about 1/4″ from thechamber bottom 125. The fill process was visible via the clearplastic housing 122. Thegas line 214 could use a one-way or two-way valve to comprise a quick release fitting for theoxygen tank 211. With thegas inlet valve 131 closed the oxygen was retained within thechamber 120 under pressure from the reservoir's water weight. (Mixingchamber 120 efficiency increased with increased reservoir pressure. The deeper the mixingchamber 120 was submersed, the greater the effective pressure on all gas components in the mixingchamber 120.) - The mixing
chamber cap 124 also included a water inlet fitting 134 attached byhose 136 to thewater fill pump 144 that broughtstatic container water 110 into the mixingchamber 120. If thepump 144 was not mounted below the lowest O2 level in thechamber 120, a check valve would be installed. Thewater fill pump 144 would flow a volume ofwater 110 at a specific flow rate into the top of the mixingchamber 120 to partially flood the pureoxygen gas volume 310. Thepump 144 added pressure into the mixingchamber 120 and also displaced some of the chamber'swater - In one test, the mixing
chamber 120 was vented and primed as above and then filled to 50% volume withpure oxygen 210. Thepump 144 was activated, providing a jet stream ofwater 110 precisely injected inside the center of the mixingchamber 120. The water jet drove hard into the oxygen air space, crashing oxygen bubbles deep into the building water toward the bottom of thechamber 123. Thebubbles 13 in the stream ofwater 110 lost their in-flow energy, their buoyancy overcame the force of the in-flow current, and they returned to the mixing chamber's oxygen/water line 141. This water inflow was repeated in a rapid continuous motion. The pump volume and pressure were regulated to preventoxygen bubbles 13 from exiting the mixing chamber'sbottom port 132. The novel design made rapidly rising larger volume bubbles 13 and preventedfiner bubbles 13. - To assist the bubbles' 13 return to the
surface 141, a bubbleimpingement return plate 160′ was installed at the end of the bubble stream range of motion. Bubbles struck theimpingement device 160′ and literally bounced back to the oxygen/water line 141 and broke open, returning theoxygen 210 for reuse.Water fill pump 144 volume/jet pressure was critical to preventbubble 13 loss outside thechamber 120. A finer bubble capture impingement medium 164 was added to insure that nobubbles 13 escaped the mixingchamber 120 by trapping any strayfine bubble 13 in the medium 164, thebubble 13 eventually releasing back to the mixingchamber water surface 141 for reuse. Bubbles were trapped with 100% success. - In the test tank of 11″ depth, the internal mixing chamber pressure was ˜2 PSI. Gas-saturated
water 140 underpump 144 pressure was displaced from thebottom 123 of the mixingchamber 120 as oxygenatedwater 140. The rate of saturation was significant. Submersion of the mixingchamber 120 in thewater oxygen gas 210. Modulation of the mixing chamber's O2/water height/pump pressure and impingement medium 164 allowed configurable DO saturation rates and provided performance adequate for most anylive well container 102. - In another test, the goal was to increase the saturation rate and total saturation to meet the challenge of portable live well systems, because running a system for longer than absolutely necessary reduces functional operating times of the
system 100. Breaking theprocess 300 into a much smaller interface between thegas 210 andsolution 110 was key to efficiency and was accomplished by breaking the mixing chamber's 120 water flow into ever increasing streams across micro-filaments in a mixing medium 170 suspended in a predominantlyoxygen gas 210.Reservoir water 110 was pumped into the top of the mixingchamber 120 and through adistributor 137 that spread the water flow somewhat equally into the mixing medium 170 that further broke down those streams into many thousands of stochastic or random filament streams. - Turbulence in the
voids 157 of the mixingmedium 170 and fine water streams following thefilaments 151 increased the dwell time and exposure to theoxygen gas 210. Very fine flow streams increased the O2 departure time (“wetted surface dwell time”) from the mixingchamber 120, increasing the solution's availability for saturation to theoxygen gas 210. “Wetted surface saturation” was a compromise of water volume over an expanded surface area within a given mixing chamber and mixing medium volume. Stated differently, functionality of the medium was dependent upon the size and shape of the mix chamber, which dictated both the O2 volume and water volume. Oxygenation was best achieved with a highly porous medium filling the mixing chamber. - To the inventor's surprise, the
water 110 clearly followed thefilaments 151 at the walls of thechamber 120 and evenwicked water 110 off thechamber wall 122. The water fell downward naturally following the micro filaments until gravity eventual dispensed highly oxygenatedwater 140 from the bottom of themixer 123 into thecontainer 102. The medium's 150 ability to retain a volume ofwater oxygenated water 140 to flow into thecontainer 102 using pulsed flow control of the mixingchamber 120 was a novel solution to oxygenation. In aclosed reservoir system 100, theprocess 300 was continually repeated until thereservoir water - A quantity of
oxygenated water 140 was retained within the mixing chamber's medium 150, which held the water somewhat like a “sponge.” This remainingsolution 140 inmedium 150 suspension was then 100% available to theoxygen gas 210 for the duration of the “off” time cycle. The wettedmedium 150/170 andsolution 140, under pressure, quickly reached hyper-saturation levels with no power applied and no user interface. The next manual or timed pump “on” cycle flushed the hyper-saturatedsolution 140 into thecontainer 102, providing an initial boost of hyper-saturated dissolved oxygen into thecontainer 102 and raising the average dissolved oxygen levels. - The speed of saturation was influenced by many design factors, including the shape and volume of the mixing
chamber 120,temperature 34, ambient atmospheric pressure, mixing chamber pressure, type ofmedium 150, flow rates, fresh orsalt water 10, pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, and water distribution on entry and through the mixingchamber 120, to name a few. For purposes of this specification, “saturation” may refer to degrees approaching 100% saturation (for example, 50%, 60%, 75%, 90%), 100% saturation, and greater than 100% saturation unless otherwise stated. Similarly, “bubble-less” and “bubble-free” may be substantially free of bubbles, and may refer to that status reached after the gas fill is stabilized in the mixingchamber 120 and/or the mixing chamber'sgas 210 andwater 110 interaction reach equilibrium. Bubble ejection would typically be less than 1% of the total volume of the mixing chamber 120 (water and gas volume once charged and thesystem 100 is running). Alternatively, “substantially free of bubbles” means that the amount of oxygen released in an oxygenation cycle results in an oxygen concentration in the upper part of thecontainer 102 of no more than 50%. In other words, a small volume of bubbles escaping versus a much larger volume of gas being processed without bubbles may be substantially free of bubbles or even “bubble-free.” - The mixing
chamber 120 inflow volume showed excellent flow thru characteristics without overwhelming the mixing medium 170 or causing pump backpressure, cavitation, or ejection of O2 gas. Pump 144 flow rates (GPH) of appropriately sized pumps were fitted to mixing chamber's 120 unique requirements. Test results demonstrated that the 5-gallon test container 102 was oxygen-saturated faster than the dissolved oxygen test meter display could settle, overloading the dissolved oxygen meter (>250%) in a 5-gallon tank in <3 minutes, with absolutely zero bubbles 13 escaping into thecontainer 102. Thecontainer 102 had a final dissolved oxygen level greater than 250% and retained a dissolved oxygen level of 100% for three days with thewater fill pump 144 off. - During a cycling test, the dissolved oxygen level would rise rapidly and stabilize in a short period of time, then rapidly rise to test meter overload. This delay was attributed to the dead flow areas of the 5-gallon tank. In addition to the unique capability to rapidly convert
oxygen gas 210 tosolution 140, the mixingchamber 120 also concurrently and rapidly stripped CO2 and nitrogen from the solution/container, the mixing medium 170 functioning as the stripping facilitator fromwater chamber 120. The ability to strip toxic gases (to fish) from thecontainer 102 extended the useful life of the container'soriginal water 110, rather than lose previously oxygenated water, temperature control, and balance of pH and salinity addingfresh water 10. - There are major benefits to a pump performing its job quickly and efficiently, which equates to money saved in energy consumed, wear and tear on the pumps, and their replacement lifecycle. In many portable applications, the energy capacity to run a pump can be limited, as in battery-driven pumps. The fast rate of oxygenation in the present invention will have many benefits. The present invention utilizes a single O2 charge to dissolve
oxygen 210 into incredibly large volumes ofwater 110.
- The following discussion details certain of the inventor's findings during development, when oxygen was the
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- In general, a system for dissolving gasses in water held in a container comprises a mixing chamber configured to hold a volume of gas (and may be pressurized by the water held in the container), a gas delivery system in communication with the mixing chamber to introduce the volume of gas into the mixing chamber through a gas inlet, a pump configured to pump a volume of water to the mixing chamber, a water inlet configured to introduce the water into the mixing chamber and through the gas in the mixing chamber to dissolve the gas and produce 60% or greater saturation of the water with the gas, and an outlet configured to release gas-saturated water that is substantially free of bubbles (for example, less than 1% after equilibrium is reached) from the mixing chamber into the container. The pump is configured to be mounted at or below the lowest level of the gas in the mixing chamber, and the gas is any water-soluble pure gas or combination of water-soluble gases, including oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and/or chlorine, and/or including ambient air.
- The mixing chamber, which may be mounted inside or outside of the container, may have an impingement plate and/or medium, wherein the water inlet is configured to emit water toward the impingement medium. The impingement plate and/or medium may be configured to trap gas bubbles and hold gas-saturated water within the mixing chamber. The pump and mixing chamber are configured to discharge some of the trapped gas-saturated water into the container upon the next use of the pump. The mixing chamber may further comprise a mixing medium, such that water is distributed through the volume of gas in the mixing medium. The mixing medium comprises a porous multi-strand matrix configured to generate turbulent circulation as the pumped water streams among and over the surfaces of the strands. A distributor is configured to direct water from the water inlet toward the mixing medium.
- The system may have a power connector, an electronic controller, a dissolved oxygen sensor, and a temperature control system and be configured to simulate aquatic life environments and to make the gas more soluble. The system may include the container, which may be a live well built into a transport or be a bucket, cooler, chest, bag, or other container that is portable by hand or cart. The container may have a fluid-tight lid that can be opened without contact with pure gas, and a bung plug may be configured to carry plumbing and electrical lines through the wall of the container. The system may also include the gas and/or an adapter configured to deliver the gas from a low-volume, low-pressure gas source to the mixing chamber without use of a regulator.
- In general, a method of dissolving gasses in water held in a container comprises providing a mixing chamber configured to hold a volume of gas and to be pressurized by the water held in the container, flooding the mixing chamber with water and venting ambient air from the mixing chamber, introducing the volume of gas into the mixing chamber via a gas delivery system in communication with the mixing chamber, pumping a volume of water through an inlet configured to introduce the water into the mixing chamber and through the gas in the mixing chamber, to generate turbulent circulation, and to dissolve the gas and produce 60% or greater saturation of the water with the gas, and releasing gas-saturated water through an outlet configured to release gas-saturated water that is substantially free of bubbles from the mixing chamber into the container.
- The method may include providing the container (which may be a live well built into a transport or be a bucket, cooler, chest, bag, or other container that is portable by hand or cart), providing a medium that is a porous multi-strand matrix configured to be located inside the mixing chamber, configuring the multi-strand matrix to strip nitrogen and carbon dioxide from the water while simultaneously infusing oxygen, providing a power connector and an electronic controller, and/or providing a temperature control system and configuring the controller to simulate aquatic life environments and to make the gas more soluble. Dissolving the gas may produce, for example, 90%, 100%, or greater saturation of the water with the gas, with hyper-saturation to about 300%.
- It will be understood that many modifications could be made to the embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the disclosures contained in the drawings are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.
Claims (38)
1. A system operable by a pump to move water from a selectable depth in shallow water of up to 15 to 70 feet to preserve fish in a vessel located on a body of water that has a bed, the system comprising:
(a) a retractable tube having a water intake that descends to a selectable depth in the body of water and is drawn back from depth;
(b) a shallow water anchor assembly having a bed-penetrating pole that is configured to carry the water intake to the selectable depth and back again;
(c) a strainer or filter on the water intake of the retractable tube; and
(d) a depth indicator that indicates the depth of the anchor assembly or the water intake of the retractable tube in the body of water;
wherein when the bed-penetrating pole is embedded in the bed of the body of water, the anchor assembly limits movement of the water intake and the vessel away from the bed-penetrating pole's location.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pump that moves water from the selectable depth through the retractable tube, wherein the pump comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a blow pump, a suck pump, and a gas injector.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the anchor assembly is configured to carry the pump to the selectable depth or to place the water intake proximate the bed of the body of water.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the depth indicator comprises one or more electronic sensors selected from the group consisting of a water sensor, oxygen sensor, depth or pressure sensor, salinity sensor, temperature sensor, pH sensor, and image sensor.
5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the pump is a blow pump comprising the water intake.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pump creates a water flow, and further comprising a gas delivery system configured to introduce a gas into the water flow, wherein the gas is pressurized by water in the vessel or the body of water to dissolve the gas.
7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a mixing chamber or mixing tube structured to mix water and gas.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a gas line, power connector or wiring that descends into the body of water on or within the retractable tube or anchor assembly.
9. The system of claim 1 , the anchor assembly comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a hand push pole, a cantilever beam that is pivotable between relatively higher and lower positions, a telescoping pole, and a pole driving system.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the retractable tube is flexible.
11. A system operable by a pump to move water from a selectable depth in shallow water of up to 15 to 70 feet to preserve fish in a vessel located on a body of water that has a bed, the system comprising:
(a) a retractable tube having a water intake that descends to a selectable depth in the body of water and is drawn back from depth;
(b) a pump that moves water from the selectable depth through the retractable tube;
(c) a shallow water anchor assembly having a bed-penetrating pole and configured to carry the pump or water intake to the selectable depth and back again;
(d) a strainer or filter on the water intake of the retractable tube;
(e) a depth indicator that indicates the depth of the anchor assembly, pump, or water intake of the retractable tube in the body of water;
wherein when the bed-penetrating pole is embedded in the bed of the body of water, the anchor assembly limits movement of the water intake and the vessel away from the bed-penetrating pole's location.
12. The system of claim 11 , the anchor assembly comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a pole, a cantilever beam that is pivotable between relatively higher and lower positions, a telescoping pole, and a pole driving system.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the pump comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a blow pump, a suck pump, and a gas injector.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the pump is a blow pump comprising the water intake.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the depth indicator comprises one or more electronic sensors selected from the group consisting of a water sensor, oxygen sensor, depth or pressure sensor, salinity sensor, temperature sensor, pH sensor, and image sensor.
16. The system of claim 11 , further comprising an indicator of the pump's performance or a shut-off mechanism configured to stop the pump when the water intake is obstructed.
17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a spring-loaded cup operative to close the water intake when contact is made with mud or debris on the bed.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the pump creates a water flow, and further comprising a gas delivery system configured to introduce a gas into the water flow.
19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a mixing chamber or mixing tube structured to mix water and gas.
20. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a fish-attracting light carried by the anchor assembly.
21. The system of claim 11 , wherein the anchor assembly is structured for adjustable placement of the pump on the bed-penetrating pole.
22. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor that prevents the pump from running when the water intake is not submerged in water.
23. The system of claim 11 , wherein the retractable tube is flexible.
24. A system operable by a pump to move water from a selectable depth in shallow water of up to 15 to 70 feet through a retractable tube to preserve fish in a vessel located on a body of water that has a bed, the system comprising:
(a) a pump having a water intake that moves water from the selectable depth through the retractable tube;
(b) a shallow water anchor assembly having a bed-penetrating pole that is configured to carry the water intake to the selectable depth and to return;
(c) a strainer or filter on the water intake of the pump; and
(d) a depth indicator that indicates the depth of the anchor assembly or the water intake of the pump in the body of water;
wherein when the bed-penetrating pole is embedded in the bed of the body of water, the anchor assembly limits movement of the water intake and the vessel away from the bed-penetrating pole's location.
25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the anchor assembly is configured to carry the pump or to place the water intake proximate the bed of the body of water.
26. The system of claim 24 , wherein the system includes the retractable tube rather than the retractable tube being supplied separately from the pump, anchor assembly, strainer or filter, and depth indicator.
27. The system of claim 24 , wherein the pump comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a blow pump, a suck pump, and a gas injector.
28. The system of claim 24 , wherein the depth indicator comprises one or more electronic sensors selected from the group consisting of a water sensor, oxygen sensor, depth or pressure sensor, salinity sensor, temperature sensor, pH sensor, and image sensor.
29. The system of claim 24 , further comprising an indicator of the pump's performance or a shut-off mechanism configured to stop the pump when the water intake is obstructed.
30. The system of claim 24 , wherein the pump creates a water flow, and further comprising a gas delivery system configured to introduce a gas into the water-flow.
31. The system of claim 30 , further comprising a mixing chamber or mixing tube structured to mix water and gas.
32. The system of claim 24 , the anchor assembly comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a hand push pole, a cantilever beam that is pivotable between relatively higher and lower positions, a telescoping pole, and a pole driving system.
33. A system operable to move water from a depth in shallow water of up to 15 to 70 feet from a body of water that has a bed to preserve fish in a vessel in cooperation with a mixing chamber or mixing tube, the system comprising:
(a) a shallow water anchor assembly having a bed-penetrating pole and designed to descend into the body of water and to retract;
(b) a water delivery system including a water intake that sources water from the body of water;
(c) a mixing chamber or mixing tube structured to receive water from the water delivery system; and
(d) at least one member selected from the group consisting of a mixing medium, bubble trap, impingement medium, impingement plate, diverter plate, diverter device, and distributor, wherein the at least one member is located within the mixing chamber or mixing tube;
wherein the anchor assembly is structured to carry parts of the system, including the water intake, to depth and return those parts to the surface; and
wherein when the bed-penetrating pole is embedded in the bed of the body of water, the anchor assembly limits movement of the water intake and the vessel away from the bed-penetrating pole's location.
34. The system of claim 33 , further comprising a gas delivery system; wherein the mixing chamber is structured to receive and hold gas from the gas delivery system and to distribute the water through the gas to dissolve the gas prior to reaching any fish in the vessel; and wherein water saturated with gas flows from the mixing chamber to the vessel.
35. The system of claim 33 , the anchor assembly comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a pole, a cantilever beam that is pivotable between relatively higher and lower positions, a telescoping pole, and a pole driving system.
36. The system of claim 33 , the water delivery system further comprising a retractable tube.
37. The system of claim 33 , further comprising a pump, wherein the pump comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a blow pump, a suck pump, and a gas injector.
38. The system of claim 33 , wherein the gas is pressurized by water in the vessel, wherein the vessel is a container or transport, or body of water.
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